asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether it is still the practice of the Unified Society to pay benefit to insured persons whose employers have failed to comply with the Act in regard to the stamping of cards and subsequently take proceedings against the employer for the amount of the benefit so paid, and if this is the practice of the society, whether he will state why the society refused to pay benefit to Mr. James Garry (Membership No. 46143), and whether he will also state whether the health insurance section of his Department has failed to reply to communications addressed to them in the matter by Mr. Garry, and if so, on what grounds.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Health Insurance Benefits.
The society has no power to pay benefit to a member in arrears, whether as a result of default on the part of an employer or otherwise, at a rate in excess of that to which the number of contributions to his credit in the relevant contribution year entitles him. It is not the practice of the society to take action against an employer for the recovery of any benefit lost by the member as a result of the employer's failure to pay contributions.
The society refused to pay benefit to Mr. James Garry as he is completely suspended from benefit owing to insufficiency of contributions during the contribution year 1940/41. Only one communication has been received in the Department from Mr. Garry, which was duly acknowledged. Investigation into the question of non-compliance by his employers is still proceeding and Mr. Garry is being informed as to the present position.