asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is taking any steps to secure agreement with the Government of Northern Ireland on the difficulties outstanding in connection with the Unemployment Insurance Code; if these difficulties were raised by the Saorstát representatives at the last International Labour Congress; and, if so, with what success.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Insurance in Northern Ireland and Free State.
Minister for Posts and Telegraphs (Mr. Connolly) (for Minister for Industry and Commerce)
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the unsuccessful attempts that have been made since 1923 to bring about reciprocal arrangements in the matter of Unemployment Insurance with the Government of Northern Ireland and to the circumstance that any prospect of success that still remained was practically removed by legislation enacted by the Northern Parliament in 1928 whereby three years' residence in Northern Ireland or Great Britain was made a condition for the receipt of unemployment benefit. I am considering whether any further measures are possible which might offer greater prospects of success than those already tried. As the Deputy is aware, the difficulty arising from the imposition of the residence qualification by the Parliament of Northern Ireland was raised by way of complaint by the Saorstát representatives at the International Conference in 1929 and in 1930 and the reply of the British Government (which in international affairs is responsible for the Government of Northern Ireland) on each occasion was that the legislation in question did not constitute a breach of the International Convention (ratified by Great Britain) which prescribes that ratifying members shall upon terms being agreed between them make arrangements whereby workers belonging to one nation member and working in the territory of another shall be admitted to the same rates of Unemployment Insurance Benefit as those which obtain for the workers belonging to the other. In the circumstances it seemed impossible to obtain a decision from the Conference and the matter was not raised there in 1931, but the question did again come before the last International Labour Conference (1932) and, after discussion, was referred to the Governing Body and to the next Session of the Conference which will be dealing with Unemployment Insurance.
Is the Minister aware that in the Northern Ireland legislation which imposes a residence test there is a further clause to the effect that the provisions regarding residence are subject to regulations which may be made? Has that been brought to the notice of those who raised the point at the Geneva Conference?
Mr. Connolly
At the moment I am not in a position to give any further information on the subject. If the Deputy wishes to put down a further question we shall get the information for him.
This is a matter which was brought before the House by the Minister for whom the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs is acting as substitute. I am asking was it put to the delegates to the last International Labour Congress that they were to raise this point.
Mr. Connolly
I am not in a position to say but I shall investigate the point.