(Cavan-Monaghan): asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that Army personnel who have served their contract term in the Army are disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for a period of six weeks from the termination of their service; and if he will take steps to have the position changed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Benefit.
20.
Army personnel who have completed their contract term in the Army are not subject to a disqualification for receiving unemployment benefit. However, all insured persons who voluntarily leave their employment without just cause or who lose their employment through their own misconduct are subject to a statutory disqualification for receipt of unemployment benefit for a period not exceeding six weeks.
Each case is decided on its merits by a deciding officer of my Department and a claimant who is dissatisfied with the decision in his case has the usual right of appeal to an appeals officer.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Am I right in thinking that the Minister is saying that a soldier who has served his contract term in the Army and who then leaves the Army is being treated as a person who voluntarily has left his job without justification and because of that is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit for six weeks?
Not necessarily.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Is the Minister aware that this practice is widespread? In recent weeks I have been informed that because a soldier left the Army when his contract had been completed he was taken as having left his job voluntarily and without just cause and was disqualified from benefit for six weeks.
The Deputy knows, as most Deputies will, that the first story a constituent gives to him is not always correct.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Has the Minister on his file particulars of a case——
I think I know the case the Deputy is referring to.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Can the Minister tell me why he was disqualified?
I will not say here but I will tell the Deputy that the particular person was advised of his right to appeal and has not done so.
(Cavan-Monaghan): If he does appeal, will the Minister have his appeal processed quickly?
I will.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Will the Minister agree with me as a general principle that it would be quite wrong——
The Deputy will be getting first-class service.
The Deputy has asked six supplementary questions about one specific case.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It is a national question affecting the national Army. In the case of a soldier who signs on for three years and at the end of that time decides that Army life is not for him and that he does not want to re-enlist and if he has been looking for work and is anxious to work, would the Minister agree that it would be quite wrong to penalise him by disqualifying him for six weeks?
In such a case it would be quite wrong. The Deputy knows I would agree that any man who serves his country in the Defence Forces for any period is entitled to the best possible treatment and the fullest respect.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister agree that the case of which we are speaking is such a case? This is a married man with a family who has been kept without benefit for six weeks.
I suggest that the Deputy should advise him to appeal and I will take an interest in the case.