Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 12 Dec 1924

Vol. 9 No. 26

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. - VOTE 52—DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE.

Mr. BLYTHE

I beg to move:—

Go ndeonfar Suim Bhreise ná raghaidh thar £175,355 chun íoca an mhuirir a thiocfidh chun íocaíochta i rith na bliana dar críoch an 31adh lá de Mhárta, 1925, chun Tuarastáil agus Costaisí na Roinne Tionnscail agus Tráchtala maraon le Moltóir agus Cúirteanna Réiteoirí, Síntiúisí do Chiste an Díomhaointis agus do Chiste Speisialta an Díomhaointis, agus do Scéimeanna Speisialta, Iocaíochtanna le Cumainn fé sna hAchtanna um Arachas Díomhaointis, chun roimhíocanna le Lucht Oibre fén Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, Táillí agus Costaisí na nDochtúirí Réitigh fén Workmen's Com- pensation Act, 1906, Táillí do Mháinleagha Deimhniúcháin fén Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, Táillí agus Costaisí fén Trade Boards Acts, 1909 and 1918, Táillí agus Costaisí fén Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, agus fén Gas Regulation Act, 1920, agus fén Weights and Measures Act, 1889, agus fós Costaisí mar gheall ar Chó-ghléasa Idirnáisiúnta an Oibreachais (Cumann na Náisiún) maraon le Deontas i gCabhair.

That a Supplementary Sum not exceeding £175,355 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1925, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Department of Industry and Commerce including Umpire and Courts of Referees, Contributions to the Unemployment Fund and to the Special Unemployment Fund and to Special Schemes, Payments to Associations under the Unemployment Insurance Acts, for advances to Workpeople under the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, Fees and Expenses of Medical Referees under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, Fees to Certifying Surgeons under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, Fees and Expenses under the Trade Boards Acts, 1909 and 1918, Fees and Expenses under the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1919, and the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, and the Weights and Measures Act, 1889, also Expenses in connection with the International Labour Organisation (League of Nations) including a Grant-in-Aid.

Mr. A. BYRNE

I would remind the Minister again of the matter I raised a few days ago on the question of unemployment benefit for seamen, resident in the Free State, who are employed on British and Northern Ireland owned ships. As the law stands, owing to the failure of reciprocity being arrived at, these men are likely to be deprived of benefits from all Governments. The Minister for Industry and Commerce practically promised myself and one other Deputy who raised the question on that day, to bring the matter forward again, and he would let us know exactly what he was doing in the matter. I have a letter in my hand from a trade union in England concerning Irish seamen. This is a paragraph: "It appears that action must be taken within a very short time by the authorities on this side (that is, the British Government), either with a view to making arrangements for payment of benefit, or if this arrangement cannot be made, then the recording of a formal decision that Irish seamen on British ships are not insurable for unemployment purposes so as to prevent the collection of contributions for which the men will get no return." The letter goes on to say, "If your Minister would continue the pressure and open up negotiations again with this side, if he will do that, I am convinced it will not be in vain."

This, apparently, is the result of conversations held with British officials. This party who writes the letter in England believes that if our Minister puts on additional pressure and continues negotiations, it will have some result. I merely rise to ask, in view of the Minister's statement the other day, not to break off the conversations that have been going on concerning these matters. I understand also that the Government of Northern Ireland are considering the matter and trying to arrive at some satisfactory arrangement that will give benefit to their people in the Free State.

Mr. JOHNSON

On a point of order or procedure, inasmuch as this matter is one which has had some ventilation and, as Deputy Byrne said, the Minister more or less promised he would make a statement on the matter, I would suggest to the Leader of the House that we should adjourn the debate until the Minister is present. We then could have the benefit of his advice.

Major COOPER

Will the Minister make his statement on the Medical Register?

Mr. BLYTHE

Yes, he will.

Sitting suspended until a quarter past seven.

Sitting resumed,AN CEANN COMHAIRLE in the Chair.