I ask for leave to introduce a Bill entitled "An Act to amend sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920". Perhaps, with the indulgence of the House, you will permit me, Sir, to say what the general purposes of the Bill are. One of the purposes of the Bill is to secure that men enlisted in the Defence Forces who were contributors prior to enlistment will be put in the position that the unemployment benefit rights possessed by them prior to enlistment will emerge unimpaired on the termination of their military service, notwithstanding the lapse of insurance years during which no contribution is paid into the Unemployment Fund. It is also proposed in the Bill to provide for the position under the Unemployment Insurance Acts of certain Irish seamen who had been employed on ships the registration of which has been changed since the outbreak of war from an Irish to a British port, so that they will not be disqualified for the receipt of unemployment benefit in respect of the contributions to their credit in the Unemployment Fund at the date of change of registration by reason of the non-payment of contributions during subsequent insurance years.
Committee on Finance. - Unemployment Insurance Bill, 1940—First Stage.
Is it intended to make the insurance cover for those who joined the Army retrospective to any particular date—to the outbreak of the emergency, for instance?
I will look into that.
Leave granted.
Bill read the First Time.
Second Stage to be taken on February 5th, 1941.