asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he proposes to make any provision for sailors who have been rendered idle in consequence of the economic war in view of the fact that their unemployment insurance cards being stamped with English stamps they are not entitled to draw benefits in the Saorstát.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision for Disemployed Sailors.
So far as the seamen in question are domiciled in the Irish Free State and employed on ships registered in the Irish Free State, they come within the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act as fully as other workers, but seamen domiciled in the Irish Free State are not insured at all against unemployment while employed on ships registered in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and do not pay contributions. I can only understand the Deputy's reference to books being stamped with British stamps, on the assumption that in the case of certain seamen contributions were paid for them in error. In such cases, I am of opinion that the men concerned could claim repayment from the British Fund of their share of the contributions.
Unemployed seamen will have the benefits of whatever provisions are made from time to time for unemployed workers generally, both insured and uninsured, and it has not been possible to make any exceptional provision for special classes of which seamen are only one.
Is the Minister aware that a large number of sailors in the Free State are unemployed and can he make any suggestion to shipowners that a percentage of Irishmen should be members of the crew of boats trading with Free State ports?
That has been done.