asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether there have been any further negotiations/with the Governments of the United Kingdom and of Northern Ireland concerning reciprocity in Unemployment Insurance between the Saorstát and Northern Ireland and the limitations imposed upon the right to unemployment benefit in Northern Ireland of persons formerly resident in the Saorstát, and, if so, whether he can give any information as to their progress.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reciprocity in Unemployment Insurance.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce (a) whether he is aware that large numbers of Irish workers who were employed in insurable occupations in Britain have been refused unemployment insurance benefits when they became unemployed and returned to the Saorstát, owing to the fact that no reciprocal arrangements in connection with unemployment insurance benefits arc in operation; and (b) whether he will state if any negotiations have taken place since June last between representatives of his Department and of the British Ministry of Labour with a view to reciprocal arrangements being put into operation; and, if so, with what result.
I will reply to this question and to that asked by Deputy Cassidy on the same subject together. These matters are the subject of correspondence with the Government of the United Kingdom following on the discussion of them at the Twelfth Session of the International Labour Conference, but no change has yet resulted in the position as described by me in answers to questions on the 19th December, 1924; 15th February, 1927: 23rd November, 1927, and 11th October, 1928.
The Parliamentary Secretary quotes a few dates which I did not altogether hear. I would like him to answer the question that I have asked; that is, have any negotiations taken place since last June with the British Ministry of Labour?
What does the Parliamentary Secretary mean by "The Government of the United Kingdom?"
Deputy O'Connell's question refers specifically to the United Kingdom. My reply was an answer to that.
The Saorstát and Northern Ireland.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell me if any negotiations have taken place since June between the British Ministry of Labour and the representatives of the Department of Industry and Commerce?
In other words, could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the new British Government has been approached on this matter?
Precisely.
Yes. We have made representations and are in communication with them.
Has the attention of the Parliamentary Secretary been drawn to a letter. that Miss Margaret Bondfield, the Minister of Labour, wrote to her constituents oh last Saturday, in which she said——
The Deputy must not cite the letter — not now.
This is a matter that the Department should press forward. There has been too much delay in connection with it. I understand a Bill will be introduced in England to remedy difficulties arising under the British Insurance Acts. Negotiations should be commenced between our Department and the British Department at once. If any correspondence has passed, will the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to lay it on the Table of the House?
Not at present. Negotiations are in progress.