asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to introduce legislation amending the Workmen's Compensation Acts so as to provide increased compensation for the dependents of workers fatally injured and to increase the weekly payments to injured workers during periods of total or partial incapacity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workmen's Compensation Acts and Industrial Diseases.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state whether representations have been received in his Department from trade union organisations and members of the Bar and of the judiciary, urging the necessity of amending the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1934, in order to eliminate the defects in that Act, which have become apparent since the Act was passed; and further, whether he will consider introducing legislation to amend that Act so as to provide a fair system of compensation for workmen in keeping with modern views on the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if it is proposed to extend the schedule of industrial diseases so as to cover "pneumoconiosis".
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to answer Questions 4 to 6, which relate to the Workmen's Compensation Act, together.
I am having the provisions of this Act examined together with the representations received on the subject. It is not yet possible to say what action in the matter will be necessary. I might add for Deputy Hickey's information that there is no provision in the present Act which would enable me to apply the Act by scheme to workmen suffering from any manifestation of pneumoconiosis other than silicosis.
Is the Minister aware that within the past 12 months two cases have been before the courts where the doctors are satisfied that men are suffering from this disease, but as it is not a scheduled industrial disease nothing can be done by the courts? That is my reason for pointing out the necessity of extending the schedule of industrial diseases so as to cover pneumoconiosis.
The Deputy must not take me as being unsympathetic to his representations. What I am pointing out is that there is no provision under the present Act by which I can extend by scheme, or make any regulations in regard to the disease in which the Deputy is particularly interested and which he wants scheduled as an industrial disease. I am, however, going to have the matter examined.
Is the Minister aware that it was indicated in the House last year that at that time a review of the Workmen's Compensation code was being put in hands? Are we to take it that that consideration has been going on or has it only recently started?
The question of an examination of the Workmen's Compensation Act has been under consideration not merely in connection with the structure of the present Act, but in connection also with a comprehensive scheme of social security. That examination is proceeding. The matter which requires to be determined in the first instance is whether the existing Act should be allowed to continue in a new form or whether workers' compensation should be brought within the comprehensive social security scheme. That is under consideration at the moment and a decision on a point of principle has not been taken.
Can the Minister say how long that examination has been going on?
About ten years.
About ten years.
Since 1934.
The last Act was passed in 1934. Between that year and 1948, as the Deputy will appreciate, no steps were taken to amend it or to remove any defects which were inherent in it. Examination is now taking place speedily and the whole matter is under consideration.
Like the cost of living.
Since when has the examination begun?
Question No. 7.