asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether inquiries are complete as to why the 1969 insurance card of a person (name supplied) in County Mayo has not yet been surrendered to his Department; and when it is expected that the person will be paid unemployment benefit.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Mayo Insurance Case.
16.
As a result of a survey on 3rd July, 1970, as to the stamping of insurance cards of the workers of the employer concerned, it was found that insurance contributions were due in respect of the insured person referred to for the period 16th June, 1969, to 8th May, 1970. On 17th July, 1970 his 1969 insurance card with only two contributions was lodged with the Department. Action taken by my Department for payment of all the contributions due in respect of the insured person concerned and others employed by the same employer met with no success and it was subsequently discovered that the employer had left the area. His present whereabouts are not known.
The claim to unemployment benefit by the insured person made on 18th May, 1970, was disallowed because less than 26 employment contributions has been paid or credited in the relevant governing contribution year 1968. On the commencement of the new benefit year on 1st June, 1970, the claim was reviewed in the light of the 1969 contribution record but could not be allowed because of the employer's failure to pay all the insurance contributions due in respect of that year. The claim will now be reconsidered under the amending regulations which were made on the 8th instant to see whether the claimant can be made eligible for unemployment benefit from that date through the grant of credits in respect of weeks for which contributions are outstanding. The insured person is statutorily entitled to recover the benefit lost up to that date from the employer but the prospects of doing so or of recovering the arrears of contributions are not encouraging.
I should add that following on the disallowance of his claim to unemployment benefit, the person in question applied for and was granted unemployment assistance.
Has the Minister any idea what nationality this employer was?
Not at the moment actually.
I gathered from the Minister's reply that he has gone out of the country. Is that so?
I do not know where he is.
The Minister has no idea of his nationality?
No.
Or what business he was in?
I know his business, yes.
Does the Minister know whether or not he got Government grants?
I would not think so. He was a wasterpaper collector.
He would not be, would he, one of these fly-by-nights who come in here, get a grant and then go out again?
I have not that information.
There was one in Monaghan who was no fly-by-night and he got a grant.
I do not think the business would qualify for a grant.
Has the Minister any reason to assume he is still in the country?
We are still looking for him.
This kind of thing happens very frequently. Is there any way of getting round it? An employer makes the deductions from the employees but he does not pay the employer's contribution.
The Deputy may not be aware that I announced recently in the House that we are introducing amending legislation to deal with this.
Will it be retrospective?
I would not think so.
Would the Minister consider notifying local exchanges of the regulation in force since 8th March because they do not know about it? It means coming to head office and having to go back down again.
I understand notification went out.
It must have been yesterday because they did not know up to yesterday afternoon.