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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Mar 1930

Vol. 34 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Insurance Reciprocity.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can give an estimate of the annual net cost to the Saorstát of an arrangement with the British Government in relation to unemployed insurance by which contributions paid in one country would be recognised as qualifying the insured person to receive benefit in the other, and also an estimate of the net cost of a similar arrangement with Northern Ireland.

Only an approximate estimate can be made of the cost to the Saorstát Unemployment Fund if benefit was paid out of it on stamps affixed in Great Britain. Assuming the Saorstát Fund to be credited with the value of those stamps the net cost to the Fund would be in or about £35,000 per annum. The British Fund, on the assumption that it paid benefit on Saorstát stamps and was credited with the value of the latter would have similarly to meet a net cost of a few thousand pounds. The amounts mentioned would, if merchant seamen were included in the reciprocal arrangement, be very substantially increased. No comparable estimate can be given for Northern Ireland in view of the difficulty in ascertaining the volume of labour exchanged and the average period of unemployment. But I would be satisfied at any time to enter into reciprocal arrangements with Northern Ireland on the basis that each Fund bore its own costs.

Is the Minister aware that reciprocal arrangements can be entered into with Great Britain without putting any extra expense on his Department? For instance, if workers go across to Britain, get their cards stamped there and return, insurance benefits can be paid out by the authorities here and arrangements can be entered into whereby the amount involved would be refunded from the British Government. Is the Minister prepared to negotiate on these lines?

That is exactly what is at stake. It would cost us £35,000, and the British Government loses something over £20,000. If the Deputy means that that is an easy thing to get over, I leave him to do it.

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