asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that James Sherry, High Street, Monaghan, retired from the Great Northern Railway service in October, 1927, on a pension of ten shillings per week; that his National Health Insurance cards had been regularly stamped from the time that the Insurance Act came into operation to the date of his retirement; that during the period from October, 1927, to December, 1927, six stamps were affixed to his Health Insurance card by the Monaghan County Council, and that he was unemployed for the rest of the period; that on 31st December, 1927, he was certified by a medical practitioner as being unfit for work; that a further medical certificate was issued to him each week for nine consecutive weeks, and that no benefit has yet been paid him; that he is insured with the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Insurance Society, his number being 4388; whether the Minister will state the cause of the delay in the matter; and whether he will take steps to secure early payment of benefit in this case.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFIT.
This man was employed and insured in Saorstát Eireann up to the 16th November, 1925, when his employers, the Great Northern Railway Company, moved him to Northern Ireland. In accordance with the reciprocal arrangements entered into between the Saorstát and Northern Ireland Governments, his insurance was transferred from the Saorstát approved society to the Northern Ireland approved society on the 2nd January, 1927. He again became employed in Saorstát Eireann on the 16th June, 1927, but under the reciprocal arrangements he will remain a member of the Northern Ireland society until the 1st July, 1928. He is, therefore, still a member of the Northern Ireland society, and has been advised to renew his application for sickness benefit to that body.