asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that a person who was an insured worker at Waterford for 20 years prior to 1939, when he was transferred to the headquarters of his firm in Liverpool until 1947, and who then returned to Waterford and continued to work there until the firm closed down in 1951, has been deprived of benefits in respect of his contributions paid prior to being transferred to England, due to being five years absent from this country (in accordance with Section 8 (4) of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920); and, if so, if he will introduce proposals for legislation to amend this section of the Act so that hardships may not be inflicted on workers who, through no fault of their own, have been unable to secure work in Ireland during the emergency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920.
Legislation to deal with the types of cases referred to by the Deputy was enacted in 1943. Under the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1943, a person who left the State for employment during the emergency period and returned to the State at any time not later than 12 months after the expiration of the emergency period has such years of absence disregarded in the application to him of sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920.
Prior to the Deputy's question, it was not known that the claimant referred to in the question had left the State for employment during the emergency period. In the light of the information now available, the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1943, are being applied to his case, and he will suffer no loss of contributions or benefit by reason of his absence.