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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Nov 1969

Vol. 242 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Six County Refugees.

17.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare what are the allowances paid in respect of (a) unemployment, (b) old age pension and (c) children to those refugees from the Six Counties at present at Gormanston; and what percentage they are of those paid to similar categories in the Six Counties.

Apart from two recipients of unemployment assistance in respect of which there is no comparable payment in the Six Counties, no one at present resident in the refugee centre at Gormanston Camp is in receipt from my Department of any of the benefits named by the Deputy. I should mention, however, that arrangements were made whereby persons entitled to retirement pensions or family allowances under the schemes operating in the Six Counties can receive payment of these pensions or allowances while resident in the refugee centre.

Is there reciprocity between the Northern Ireland Ministry of Social Security and ourselves with regard to other allowances?

For disablement and unemployment?

In respect of some of them.

Why not in respect of everyone?

The Deputy may not be aware of the fact but a reciprocal agreement involves two parties.

Are they not willing to co-operate in regard to the others?

Reciprocal agreements have been completed in respect of those benefits in which it has proved possible to conclude them.

Could the Minister relate unemployment assistance to the national assistance paid in the Six Counties?

I was not asked that.

You were.

I was not.

The Minister is an expert on republicanism in the Six Counties. Would he not learn a few of the facts?

I know more about unemployment assistance than Deputy Corish. This particular benefit might not have existed so far as Deputy Corish is concerned because it was never dealt with during his time as Minister for Social Welfare. It was just treated as if it did not exist.

It is refreshing to know the Minister knows something about it.

Yes, and it has been dealt with every time there has been an increase in social welfare payments by this Government but never by any other Government.

Go back 20 years.

The Minister is a little inconsistent in that he is replying now to questions he was never asked. Would the Minister please reply to the questions he was asked? Seriously, could the Minister relate the rates for unemployment assistance to the rates for national assistance which are comparable?

If the Deputy puts down a question to that effect it will be answered.

Question No. 18.

The Minister was asked that.

Whatever social welfare rates we pay, we pay out of the resources supplied by our own community, not the resources of another country.

Another country?

Yes, another country. The British taxpayer does not contribute to our social welfare benefits.

Does the Minister not think he should find out what the rates are?

I was not asked what the rates are in the north.

The Minister was asked that.

I was not. What we pay we supply from our own resources not from the loot from all over the world over centuries.

I am sure the Minister for External Affairs would not like to hear that.

The Minister has referred to another country. Is the North of Ireland not recognised by the front bench of Fianna Fáil, even though the integrity of the country is recognised by the Constitution?

The Deputy does not know what he is talking about. I said our social welfare payments come from the resources of our own community; they are not provided by the taxpayers of another country.

A Cheann Comhairle——

I am calling Question No. 18.

Raise it on the Adjournment.

The Minister is a glutton for punishment. I can promise him we will give him plenty of punishment on the Adjournment from now on.

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