asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the reasons why Michael Shea, Coom, Allihies, Co. Cork, was refused unemployment insurance benefit.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployed Insurance Benefit.
The claim to an unemployment benefit made by Mr. Michael Shea, of Coom, Allihies, Co. Cork, on the 23rd June last was disallowed by the umpire on the ground that the claimant was not unemployed.
Mr. Murphy
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say on what grounds the umpire based that decision. Was he aware that this man was working in the Allihies copper mines and that his only disability, so far as was stated, is that he owns a small farm to the valuation of £4. Will the Parliamentary Secretary convey to the Minister that this is one of the cases of which the Minister is anxious to get particulars in order to develop his case that there is no hardship involved to owners of small patches of land in the administration of the Act?
This is a case where on a thorough examination of the facts it was disclosed before the umpire that this man was employed upon his own farm of land. He owns ten acres and this was during the period that a farmer would be working on the land and he admitted in cross-examination that he worked that land.
Mr. Murphy
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state how he was engaged in working on the land if he was engaged in working in the copper mines?
This was at the time he was claiming unemployment benefit.
Mr. Murphy
Will the Parliamentary Secretary pass the case on to the Minister and ask him to examine it?
I should be very glad to look into any new facts which the Deputy is able to supply me with. But certainly this man was not unemployed in the case before us and the statutory condition laid down is that a man must be unemployed in order to get benefit.