asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if and when the claim for unemployment insurance benefit was received by his Department from Mr. Edward Holland, Distillery House, Tullamore, Offaly; whether it was allowed by the Court of Referees, and whether he is now prepared to sanction payment of same or state the reason why he is unable to do so.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TULLAMORE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIM.
A claim to unemployment benefit made on the 30th April, 1926, by Edward Holland, of Distillery House, Tullamore, was disallowed by the insurance officer under Section 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920, on the ground that the claimant was not unemployed and not unable to obtain suitable employment. The claimant appealed against this decision to the Court of Referees, which recommended that the claim should be allowed. The insurance officer was, however, unable to agree with the Court's recommendation, and referred the case for final decision to the Umpire, who disallowed the claim. It is open to the claimant if he is now unemployed and if his circumstances have changed since the time that his last claim was disallowed, to make a further claim.
Is it a fact that this man had been in continuous employment for twenty years and had during a long period contributed to Unemployment Insurance? Is it a fact that the real reason why his claim has been disallowed is that he occupied his time during the period of unemployment in cutting turf for himself and his brother-in-law, and does the Minister agree with that decision?
I think the facts are much as the Deputy has stated, but other things could be emphasised with regard to this man's period of unemployment. Whether I am in agreement with the decision or not does not arise. The Umpire has decided, and that finishes it.