asked the Minister for Labour if workers who are considered unable to continue due to infirmity in work that they have carried out for an extended period and are not yet pensionable are entitled under the existent legislation to redundancy payments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Redundancy Payments.
44.
The answer is "No". The redundancy legislation only provides for payments to workers who lose their employment because of redundancy.
Would the Minister not consider introducing the necessary legislation to meet that position?
No. We have legislation pending for the amendment of the definition of redundancy but it will not extend to retired persons.
45.
asked the Minister for Labour when the proposed Bill to amend the Redundancy Payments Act will be published.
The drafting of the Bill is nearing completion and the Bill will be published as soon as possible after drafting has been completed.
Could the Minister say whether the Bill will be introduced in this session if things go on normally?
I had hoped it would but I should not like to say now that it will. It will certainly be introduced and I hope to have it circulated as soon as possible. It is a much larger Bill than the Deputy thinks.
The Deputy knows it will be a very large Bill because he was here when it was being drafted with somebody who is no longer on the Front Bench and he told that person that he would have to come back again in a couple of years.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.