asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that Mr. John Maher, 7 Queen Street, Portlaw, who is a member of the Army reserve, Class A, receives from the Army £13 per annum payable in two instalments, that as a consequence of those payments he is seriously penalised when he registers for employment at the labour exchange, as those in receipt of unemployment assistance take precedence over him when work is available; that his claim is only considered when others have been provided for, and if he will take steps to have Army reservists placed on an equal footing with other applicants for work at labour exchanges.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reservists and Labour Exchange Registration.
No. 61379, Reservist John Maher, Regiment of Thomond, normally receives £12 12s. 0d. per annum, payable in two instalments, i.e., £8 on completion of annual training and £4 12s. 0d. during the third week in December. I am not aware that in consequence of such payments Reservist Maher is penalised, as stated by the Deputy, when registering for employment at the labour exchange. The answer to the last part of the question is accordingly in the negative.
Arising out of the reply, is the Minister not aware that if a person is rendered ineligible to receive unemployment assistance his name cannot be registered at the labour exchange for the purpose of getting work, as work under these schemes is given only to those eligible to receive unemployment assistance? If this man registers with a view to getting work or assistance, whichever is available, and if the labour exchange refuses to register him, he is not able to get either.
All I can say is that the Deputy does not understand the question.
Will the Minister say that he does not know that deductions are being made, and will he assure the House that where such deductions are made they are not made on regulations made by the Department of Finance?
That is a separate question.
The Minister was asked a question and he said he did not know that moneys were being deducted from payments for unemployment assistance to persons who expected money because they belong to the Army reserve. Will he say that the Department of Finance have not issued any regulations for the making of such deductions?
I repeat that that is a separate question. This question relates specifically to an individual in which the Minister was asked if he was aware that such and such circumstances existed, and he says he is not aware that such circumstances exist.