asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that the Meath County Council refused to stamp the National Health Insurance Cards of their employees, as from the 28th April, 1921, to the 3rd July, 1922, and that, as a result of such action on the part of the Meath County Council, a large number of the Council's employees were denied sickness and maternity benefit; whether a test case by the Insurance Commissioners against the Council was lost, and, if so, whether, in view of this decision, County Councils are obliged by law to stamp Insurance cards; whether it is intended to take further proceedings against the Meath County Council and compel them to comply with the provisions of the National Health Insurance Acts, 1911 to 1923.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - MEATH CO. COUNCIL EMPLOYEES' INSURANCE.
It is a fact that the Meath County Council refused to stamp the National Health Insurance Cards of their employees from 28th April, 1921, to 3rd July, 1922, but the Council had very few insurable employees between April and October, 1921.
The Commission's attention was called to certain cases in which employees were deprived of benefit owing to the Council's omission to stamp their cards.
The Commission instituted prosecutions in seven test cases which were heard on the 13th June, 1923, before the District Court, Navan, and were dismissed on the ground that under Section 51 (7) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, proceedings ought to have been instituted within 6 months of the date of the offence. There is no right of appeal from a dismiss of such proceedings. Proceedings could not have been taken earlier, as no competent Summary Courts had been functioning in County Meath for some time. County Councils are obliged by law to stamp insurance cards, and the Meath County Council has complied with the law in this respect since June, 1922. It is not intended to take further proceedings against this Council.