asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has made any regulations under the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966; if so, if he will specify them; and if he intends to make any further regulations before the Act comes into operation on 1st May, 1967.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act.
52.
I have made an order appointing 1st May, 1967, as the day on which the Act will come into operation. The order is entitled the Social Welfare (Occupational Injuries) Act, 1966 (Appointed Day) Order, 1967.
It is intended that regulations under sections 3, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the Act which are in course of preparation will be made before that date.
In addition, the following regulations made under the Social Welfare Acts, 1952 to 1966, are in course of amendment as a result of the introduction of the occupational injuries scheme:— the Social Welfare (Contributions) Regulations, 1953 to 1965, the Social Welfare (Collection of Contributions) Regulations, 1952, the Social Welfare (Persons Treated as Employers) Regulations, 1953, the Social Welfare (Modifications of Insurance) Regulations, 1956 to 1964, the Social Welfare (Claims and Payments) Regulations, 1952 to 1966, the Social Welfare (General Benefit) Regulations, 1953 to 1963, the Social Welfare (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations, 1953 to 1966, and the Social Welfare (Absence from the State) Regulations, 1953 to 1965.
When will the Minister have those ready?
We will have them all ready before 1st May.
Would it not be a much more sensible approach to the problem to have them all ready before you make the commencement order so that they would be available a proper time in advance of the order? Would it not also be a more appropriate matter to consolidate the not inconsiderable number of regulations which the Minister has just read out? It will require a dictionary to get through them all.
I thought of that. It just would not be so practicable to have them consolidated because many of them are orders which permit of a certain amount of flexibility. They are not really difficult to draft or to understand. They mainly deal with administrative and technical matters which are only covered in a broad way in the Act. I do not think it will entail any serious burden to have them ready in time. I believed to have the appointed day of the regulation first was important. Once that is made, there is some assurance that those other things will follow.
In other words, the Minister feels he had to have the big stick hanging over himself to get him to do his work. If the Minister will not consolidate those, will he at least publish them in one volume so that we do not have to go to 20 different ones?
They will all be ready in time.
Why not publish them all in one volume?
Does the Minister not agree that this causes considerable inconvenience to insurers in regard to the assessment of workmen's compensation? This was pointed out to his predecessor last year.
I have spoken with the Association of Commercial Insurance Companies.
I am not worried about the insurance companies. I am worried about the people who have insurance with them.
They will not be bothered.
You will not be able to do it before 1st May.
It is a big job for a lawyer.