asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that James Dowling, of 2B Corporation Place, Foley Street, Dublin, applied for and was refused unemployment assistance under the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933; that Dowling has a wife and seven children; that he has been signing for work since 6th June, 1933, to 9th July, 1934, at the labour exchange (H.27 Classification No. 435); that owing to his insufficient earnings at his trade he was subsidised by the Board of Assistance 12 months ago and is still receiving 12/6 able-bodied relief and if he will state for what reasons he was refused assistance under the Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance Application.
James Dowling, 2C Corporation Place, Foley Street, Dublin, a self-employed chimney sweep, made application for unemployment assistance on 18th April, 1934. The application was referred to the Court of Referees by the unemployment assistance officer, under Section 20 (2) of the Act, for consideration and recommendation. The court, after hearing the evidence of Mr. Dowling (who was present) in support of his application, recommended that the application be disallowed on the statutory grounds that the applicant failed to prove that he was genuinely seeking and was unable to obtain suitable employment. With this recommendation the unemployment assistance officer agreed, and accordingly disallowed the application as failing to satisfy the condition imposed by Section 15 (1) (b) of the Unemployment Assistance Act, 1933. With regard to the other inquiries made by the Deputy, my Department, in determining Mr. Dowling's applications for a qualification certificate and unemployment assistance, was aware of all the circumstances mentioned in the Deputy's question.
Is the Minister aware that this man Dowling applied in at least five instances for employment and does not that come under the statutory regulation of genuinely seeking and being unable to obtain suitable employment? Does the Minister not consider the case deserving of more consideration in view of the fact that the man sought employment but failed to obtain it?
The Deputy is probably aware that I have no function in relation to questions of that kind, which are determined finally by the Court of Referees.