asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if any reciprocal arrangement exists between the Saorstát Government and the Government of Northern Ireland in regard to the payment of unemployment insurance benefits to citizens of the Saorstát employed in Northern Ireland.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
Mr. F. CARNEY
MINISTER for INDUSTRY and COMMERCE (Mr. McGilligan)
I would refer the Deputy to the detailed replies given to similar questions by Deputy Alfred Byrne and by Deputy Johnson on the 19th December, 1924, again to Deputy Alfred Byrne on the 15th February, 1927, and to Deputy T. Mullins on the 23rd November, 1927. The position is still the same as explained on those occasions. No reciprocal arrangement exists with the Government of Northern Ireland, that Government not being prepared to give serious consideration for proposals for such an arrangement.
Mr. CASSIDY
May I ask whether it is the intention to re-open these negotiations with regard to reciprocal arrangements with the Northern Government?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
How can I open negotiations with a Government if it is not prepared to give serious consideration to it?
Mr. CARNEY
Are we to understand then from the Minister that all those who are employed in the Six Counties and who are citizens of the Free State are not entitled to any unemployment benefit?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
Oh no. Quite wrong.
Mr. CARNEY
Is the Minister aware that there are 45 men employed in the Belleek Potteries and hundreds in Derry factories who live in the Free State and find it impossible to get unemployment benefit?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
That is quite likely, but that is a different matter altogether from what the Deputy set out—it is different from the generalisation the Deputy made already.
Mr. CARNEY
I would like to know what the Minister will do about it?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
I am waiting for suggestions from the Deputy. If the Deputy will read the replies given already, and which I have now indicated, he will find that all that could possibly be done in this matter has been done by the Government.
Mr. COONEY
Are we to take it from the Minister that those people who work in the Belleek Potteries are not entitled to unemployment benefit?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
It will depend on the conditions.
Mr. COONEY
Are not citizens of the Saorstát who work in the Belleek Potteries entitled to consideration?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
By law they can get it.
Mr. CASSIDY
Will the Minister consider the suggestion of bringing the level of the Saorstát benefits up to the level of the benefits paid in Northern Ireland?
Mr. McGILLIGAN
I have considered that and refused to do it.