asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether it has been brought to his notice that a number of insured persons entitled to receive their National Health Insurance cards for the 1/36 period prior to January 1st, 1936, had not received those cards on February 15th; whether he is aware that in most cases employers refuse to pay wages unless the current insurance card is produced to them by the worker; and whether in view of the hardship thereby inflicted on workers who were unable to obtain their cards on the due date he will take steps to reorganise the Unified Society so as to prevent a recurrence of this abuse.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of Insurance Cards.
I am informed by the society that the distribution of the 1/36 cards was made to all insured persons before the termination of the previous contribution period, and I am not aware that a number of insured persons had not received their cards on February 15th. Only one case in which there appears to have been some doubt has come to the notice of the Department. If for any reason a card is not obtainable at the time of payment of wages, a card can be procured at the post office.