asked the Minister for Social Welfare why a person in County Clare (name supplied) was refused unemployment assistance.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clare Unemployment Assistance.
13.
One of the requirements for entitlement to unemployment assistance is that a person must be the holder of a qualification certificate. The application of the person concerned for such a certificate was refused by a deciding officer on the ground that she is a married woman who is a dependant of her husband. This decision was upheld, on appeal, by an appeals officer whose decision is final in the absence of new facts or fresh evidence.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the woman's husband had a serious accident and was laid up for a considerable length of time? Therefore, would not the Parliamentary Secretary consider that assistance should be paid in this case?
I do realise that the husband had an accident on his farm and that he was laid up, not for a very considerable length of time but for some period of time. As the Deputy will appreciate, the machinery is laid down in legislation and I have no authority to interfere with the decision of a deciding officer or indeed with that of an appeals officer. The full machinery has been utilised in this case and I have no function in the matter.
Does the Parliamentary Secretary consider this to be a proper decision in view of the fact that the woman's husband——
I am satisfied that the decision was made in the light of existing legislation by the officers concerned.
Question No. 14.
Would not the Parliamentary Secretary consider this to be blatant discrimination——
I do not know. The legislation was passed under Fianna Fáil Administration.