asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether it is correct that there is no liability on a shipowner for payment under the terms of the Irish Workmen's Compensation Acts, where a seaman domiciled in this country signs UK articles on a British vessel; and, if so, whether he will take steps to remedy the matter in view of the large number of seamen from this country who earn their living on British-owned vessels.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workmen's Compensation.
15.
The Deputy is, I think concerned with the position of Irish seamen employed on ships registered in Great Britain which are engaged in regular trade between Great Britain and this country. Under reciprocal arrangements made with Great Britain such seamen should be covered by the Workmen's Compensation Acts of this country. From enquiries made by my Department it appears that a number of seamen who considered that they were entitled to benefit under those Acts did not, in fact, obtain such benefit.
The settlement of such cases rests between the workman and his employer, or failing agreement among the parties, with the Courts and the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot intervene. Nonetheless, I have arranged to have the position fully investigated.
I should however, add that any such seamen incapacitated through injury who fail to obtain workmen's compensation would be entitled to disability benefit subject to the normal qualifying conditions.
16.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether, in view of the fact that the Companies Bill, 1962 contains proposals to amend the workmen's compensation code, and that the income limit for non-manual workers in the Workmen's Compensation Acts is £200 per annum below the corresponding income limit for the purposes of the Social Welfare Acts and the Health Acts, he will take steps to restore the traditional relationship between the income limits for the Social Welfare and Workmen's Compensation Acts.
The Commission on Workmen's Compensation has made recommendations in regard to the income limit for non-manual workers. Their Reports are at present under examination in my own and in other Government Departments and when this examination is completed, the question of amending legislation will be considered by the Government.
The provisions referring to workmen's compensation which appear in the text of the Companies Bill are incidental to Company Law and could hardly be considered as proposals to amend the workmen's compensation code.
In view of the fact that this is a very urgent matter, would the Minister not consider including in the Companies Bill a section which would have this effect?
There are a big number of recommendations made in these reports and I suppose a case could be made for the majority of them as being to a certain extent urgent. I could not embark on that type of piece-meal legislation when I have this comprehensive report which is being studied with a view to making decisions as to what alterations, if any, are necessary in the Workmen's Compensation Act.
That will be manana.
It will not be manana. The study of it is nearly concluded.
I heard that before.
Could the Minister say if any other Departments have concluded consideration of the Commission's report yet?
I expect consideration of it will be completed before the end of the year.
This year?
Yes.
17.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the Report of the Commission on Workmen's Compensation will be printed.
I expect that the Report of the Commission on Workmen's Compensation will be printed before the end of the year.
If the Deputy wants a copy, I will let him have it.
Yes; I would be glad to have a copy.