asked the Minister for Social Welfare why unmarried mother's allowance is not being paid at the maximum rate to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
41.
The person concerned was awarded a social assistance allowance as an unmarried mother at a reduced rate with effect from 6 January 1977 in accordance with her means as assessed. She appealed against the award but the decision was upheld by an appeals officer.
The case is being reviewed as a result of changes in the calculation of means under the Social Welfare Act, 1979. I will let the Deputy know the result in due course.
When does the Minister propose to delete this objectionable title "unmarried mother"? Surely it is time to introduce some imagination and use a title such as single parents?
The Minister is not responsible for the wording of the question on the Order Paper.
The question on the Order Paper relates to an allowance which has an official title from the Minister for Social Welfare. If our imagination is so limited that we have to use the title unmarried mother——
(Interruptions.)
Does the House wish to take the last question?
Is it the Minister's intention to discontinue the use of the title unmarried mother? Deputy Murphy is not yet a Minister. He should be a polite backbencher and keep quite.
Deputy Murphy is probably aware that when Deputy Harte's party were in Government he was not a Minister either.
(Interruptions.)
42.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare why an old age pension has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford.
An appeals officer determined on 20 January 1978 that the person concerned was not entitled to an old age pension on the ground that he did not fulfil the statutory condition as to means. The evidence before the appeals officer indicated that the claimant had failed to disclose his means fully. If the claimant is now in a position to make a full disclosure of his means it is open to him to make a fresh claim for a pension.
With your permission I would like to raise a matter of major importance on the Adjournment. Over the last four weeks in the town of Tuam and other towns throughout my constituency there has appeared on Posts and Telegraphs vans political party stickers of the Labour Party.
Does the Deputy wish to raise something on the Adjournment?
I tried to ask a question about this on one occasion and it was refused. I tried on a second occasion to raise another question on this matter in the House but it was refused.
It was explained to the Deputy why it was refused. Does the Deputy wish to raise something on the Adjournment?
I have evidence here in the form of a photograph which shows that the van was driven by the president of the Irish Post Office Engineering Union. It might enlighten the country as well as the House——
(Interruptions.)
Order. Deputies should realise that the Chair will not tolerate any more of this abuse which is creeping in of using the pretence of raising matters on the Adjournment to get making speeches.
I am not pretending.
I will communicate with the Deputy during the day.
I used every means in may power to raise this matter and I was stopped. I want to raise the matter on the Adjournment so that I can explain not only to the House but to the whole country what is going on.
If the Deputy wishes to give notice that he wishes to raise something on the Adjournment he need only give a short notice and I will communicate with him during the day. It is not necessary to make a speech.
(Interruptions.)
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.