asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that Mr. Patrick Heffernan, Rhodus, Emly, County Tipperary, an unemployed labourer suffering from epilepsy, was refused employment by the Land Commission on lands of Ballyholohan, Emly, a short time ago; that a little later, when all other labourers refused to work on these lands, it was insisted that Patrick Heffernan should do so, and because he then refused, his unemployment assistance was stopped; and, if so, if the Minister will now take steps to have his claim to unemployment assistance restored.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Claim.
Vacancies for a number of labourers on the Ballyholohan estate, Emly, were notified to the local office of my Department at Tipperary on the 26th ultimo. Eight workers, including Patrick Heffernan, were instructed to report for the work, but they did not do so. Their applications for unemployment assistance have been refused on the grounds that they are not genuinely seeking and unable to obtain suitable employment. They have a statutory right of appeal to the Court of Referees against this decision.
On a previous occasion Heffernan applied for work and was refused because of his physical weakness. Then when a strike occurred this man, who is suffering from epilepsy, was ordered to go to work, apparently in order to act as a strike breaker, and because he refused his unemployment assistance was stopped. Is it the policy of this Department to bolster up another Department, in connection with which there is labour trouble and where there is a boycott imposed, by trying to force men to work? This man, who is suffering from a physical weakness, would not be given employment some time previous to this.
The Deputy has a lot of his information incorrectly. Mr. Heffernan is registered for employment as a farm labourer and he was employed as such during the past autumn. If he suffers from epilepsy, as the Deputy states, it does not apparently incapacitate him for work. If it did, he would not be eligible to receive unemployment assistance, as it is a condition for the receipt of unemployment assistance that the applicant be capable of work.
The Land Commission wanted men there and did they not refuse to give Heffernan work a few days previously?
That is not so.
I say that it is. He looked for work there and was refused employment.