asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether his attention has been drawn to the hardship imposed on over 600 men in Dundalk by the decision of the Umpire on the 24th instant in not confirming the decision of the Court of Referees granting the application of these men for unemployment insurance benefit during the recent curtailment of work at the Great Northern Railway Works, Dundalk; and whether it is his intention to compensate these men in any way for the hardships imposed on them by such decision; and furthermore whether he is prepared to introduce immediately proposals for legislation similar to those introduced and passed by the Government of Great Britain in 1924 by which the interests of employees who do not participate in strikes are safeguarded in the event of trade disputes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit for Dundalk Railwaymen.
I am aware that the Umpire considered the cases of the applicants referred to in the Deputy's question and decided that they were disqualified for the receipt of unemployment insurance benefit by Section 8 (1) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920. The decision of the Umpire is final. The Umpire is a Tribunal of competent jurisdiction, and the proposal that hardships arising for the litigants from the decision of such a Tribunal should be met by compensation is one which, apart from the fact that no power to pay such compensation exists, has never previously been made, as far as I am aware, and could not be entertained. It has not been decided to amend the law in the manner suggested in the final part of the Deputy's question.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, may I ask the Minister will he point out to the House what difficulties, if any, there are in having legislation introduced to amend the Act similar to the legislation passed by the Government of Great Britain in 1924?
I am afraid that is a separate question.
It arises out of the question whether the Minister is prepared to introduce this legislation. Will he give the House the reasons why he is not prepared?
The Deputy will want to put down another question. The matter could hardly arise on this question.
I definitely asked the Minister whether he is prepared to introduce legislation similar to that which has been already passed by the Government of Great Britain.
I have answered the question the Deputy asked.
In view of the importance of this question affecting. I might say, the position of over 600 men I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the adjournment.
I should like to be clear, a Chinn Comhairle, as to what matter is to be raised on the adjournment.
The matter dealing with the question I have addressed to the Minister. I want to give the Minister an opportunity of enlarging on his answer.
The Deputy has received an answer to the question he asked. If he did not ask the question he intended to ask, I suggest he should try his hand again next week.
Of course we may not all have the same intelligence as the Minister but I suggest that there is sufficient in the subject matter of the question to obtain more information from the Minister. If the Minister has misunderstood my question I want to try to lead him into the sense of the question by raising the matter again on the adjournment.
I suggest that the Deputy should see me in the meantime.
I am not responsible for the decision of the Umpire. I cannot influence that decision. The decision is final as far as the law is concerned. It is not a matter that can be discussed here because there is no Minister responsible for it.
I can quite appreciate that the Minister is not responsible for the decision arrived at by the Umpire. I have not asked any supplementary question in regard to that, but I do hold I am entitled to more information on the latter part of my question dealing with the amending legislation and to ask the Minister for further information in regard to this very important matter which, as I have stated, affects the lives and livelihood of a very large number of men in Dundalk as well as in other large industrial centres in the Free State.
The Deputy might see me before 9.30.