This Vote arises in this way: Under the 1920 Unemployment Insurance Act, British Departments were bound to pay certain contributions into the fund in respect of demobilised soldiers and sailors. Up to the 1st July, 1923, we honoured the British contributions, just as they honoured the Saorstát contributions. Stamps put up by either Government were recognised for purposes of payment when benefit came to be drawn. We were liable, accordingly, for benefit paid to demobilised soldiers and sailors in Ireland, and, being liable for a certain amount, we demanded from the British Treasury that they should transfer here an amount to meet the liability that we had incurred. The appropriate contribution had to be made. That was agreed in principle, but the discovery of just what the contribution was to be took a certain amount of time. There were many discussions, and the basis of the contribution had to be subjected to very much argumentation. Eventually, and during the period of the current financial year, a basis was agreed on and a sum of £49,000 was transferred. The State contribution to the Employment Insurance Fund depends upon other contributions. The State contribution is a fixed thing—it is a percentage. It has to bear a certain proportion to the amounts that are derived from other sources—from the deductions from the workmen and from the employers' contributions. The fact that an additional £49,000 has been paid in immediately raises the State contribution to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. On the other side, there is an appropriation-in-aid, and the appropriation-in-aid, which depends upon the total amount of the Fund, is also automatically increased. The additional moneys received from the British Treasury amount to £49,000. The State contribution, automatically increased thereby, amount to £24,200. The State contribution has always to bear a fixed relation to the amount derived from the employer and the employee. As the amount derived in some way from between the employer and the employee has been increased by £49,000, the State contribution to the Fund has also been increased by this amount of £24,200. The appropriation-in-aid has to be a fixed fraction round about one-sixth of the extra amount, £49,000 plus £24,200, and that is shown as an addition of £11,650. That is the necessity for the Vote.
