Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 25 Apr 1924

Vol. 7 No. 1

CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT.

asked the Minister for Finance if it is the intention of the Government to maintain the application of the National Health Insurance Act to farm workers, in view of the fact that it is an opinion generally expressed by both farm workers and their employers that they would prefer to get outside the provisions of the Act, and if the Minister is aware that during the fight against the British forces farmers and workers were asked not to continue paying their contributions towards this fund, and if measures will be taken to prevent legal proceedings being taken against those parties who acted on the instructions of the then de facto Government.

The Government is about to appoint an Inter-Departmental Committee of Inquiry into the working of the National Health Insurance Acts in the Saorstát, and the Deputy will have an opportunity of making out a case before the Committee for the exclusion of farm workers. The present system of contribution is based on a flat rate for all workers, farm or otherwise, and the experience of the Irish Insurance Commissioners is that agricultural labourers draw as much in benefits as do other workers. It is not correct to say that during the fight against the British, farmers and workers were asked to discontinue paying their contributions; on the contrary, during that period employers were directed to comply with the National Health Insurance Acts pending the formulation of a National Scheme. It is not the intention of the Government to direct that no legal proceedings shall be taken against employers who have failed to comply with the Acts. The decision of the Government as given on more than one occasion, has been that all contributions due since December 6th, 1921, must be paid.

Can the Minister say what Departments are going to be invited to join in this inter-Departmental Inquiry?

The Local Government, Finance, and the Insurance Commission.

Will not the Ministry of Agriculture be represented as well?

I do not think so.

I would like to ask the Minister what information he has that people were not asked to withdraw these payments? My knowledge is that they were.

I expected that the Deputy might doubt it, and I made careful inquiries.

Barr
Roinn