asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether, in relation to Emergency Powers (No. 263) Order, 1943, he has fixed any standard for the payment of compensation in the cases of seamen who have suffered or may suffer injury or loss of life attributable to warfare; and, if so, if he will cause particulars of such standard to be published; and, if not, if he will say whether he proposes to fix and to publish such a standard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Compensation for Seamen.
Shortly after the outbreak of war it was decided in principle that seamen serving on Irish ships should be guaranteed compensation for injury or loss of life attributable to warfare similar to whatever compensation would be provided for seamen on British ships.
The British scheme of compensation is constantly being revised and the pension rates increased. It has been the practice to give the dependents of Irish seamen the benefit of the increased rates provided for the dependents of British seamen. I have at present under consideration, however, the advisability of departing from the British scheme in certain respects to the advantage of Irish seamen.
In view of the fact that the representative bodies concerned are aware of the provisions of the scheme of compensation as they develop from time to time, and that the information applicable to any particular case is freely obtainable from my Department, it has not been considered necessary to undertake special publication of details.