asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in view of the Government's acceptance on the 14th February, 1952, of the motion in the names of Deputies Norton and Larkin calling for increases in the rates of unemployment insurance benefit and unemployment assistance pending the passing of legislation to provide social security, he will now indicate when it is proposed to introduce the necessary proposals for legislation to give effect to the terms of the motion in respect of the provision of increased financial aid to unemployed persons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increased Aid for Unemployed.
I hope to be in a position shortly to circulate the text of the Social Welfare (Insurance) Bill, 1951. The Bill is intended to come into operation generally in the autumn of this year and the beginning of next year. It will, however, contain provision which, if the measure is passed through the Oireachtas in time to permit it, will, I trust, enable increased rates of unemployment benefit to operate from the beginning of July of this year. I am having the question of unemployment assistance examined in my Department at present.
May I ask the Minister to give a definite reply to one particular point? Before the motion referred to in the question was put to the House a definite statement was made by the mover of the motion to the effect that the acceptance by the Government of the motion would be regarded as acceptance of an obligation on them to increase the rates before the submission of the Social Welfare Bill to this House. The Government was represented by the Minister for Education—who was sitting on the Front Bench while the mover of the motion was making that point clear to the House—and no exception was taken by the Minister for Education to the statement which was made by the mover of the motion. The silence of the Minister for Education implied acceptance. Are the Government accepting the obligation now or are they rejecting it?
Does the Deputy want an interim arrangement or does he want increased benefits for the unemployed?
Increased benefits for the unemployed.
That could not be done earlier than the 1st July. I hope that the Bill will be passed by this House by the end of next week. If it goes through the Dáil and the Seanad in the normal time, and if it is through by the end of June, the provision will be there to bring in the increased benefits by the 1st July.
The Social Welfare Bill is legislation which, I hope, will pass through the Dáil in a short time. However, we are entitled to have doubts about that. We are waiting also for the publication of the Bill which was promised by the Christmas Recess. What I ask for in my question could be dealt with by this House in a week. Is the Government accepting the obligation which was accepted in silence by the Minister for Education—who represented the Government on the Front Bench before the motion was put to the House—or are we dealing with a cheap political card trick?
I do not know if the Deputy wants to make political capital out of this question, but I assure him that the only thing we are interested in is how we can deal with the matter in the quickest possible way.
It could be done in a week.
The Deputy's leader would not admit that.
Did you not promise it on the 3rd March, 1948?
Deputy Davin's interruptions are so far off the mark that I——
Is the Minister repudiating the statement which he made?
I promised this Bill before Christmas. Although the Bill has been delayed, there is a provision that the new benefits will come into operation on the 1st July. I do not think that any temporary measure could be framed to give these increased benefits much sooner than the 1st July— perhaps it might be possible to put them into operation on the 1st June, but certainly not sooner than that. It takes at least three months to bring in a measure of that kind.
What is the difficulty about introducing a one-clause Bill providing a percentage increase on existing rates of benefit, passing it with the co-operation of all sides of this House, and applying it then in the form of corrective payments by way of stamps or some such other suitable method? The Minister will receive co-operation if he proceeds on these lines and will get this legislation quicker than by waiting for the comprehensive Bill to go through all stages in both Houses.
Did not Deputy Norton last year refuse to bring in a one-clause Bill?
The Deputy is proving that he is the "senile delinquent" himself, instead of Deputy MacEntee.
In reply to Deputy Norton, I should like to say that there is no trouble in bringing in a one-clause Bill, and I am sure the Dáil would let it through very quickly, and so would the Seanad. It is making the arrangements for these payments which cannot be done much under three months.