asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to the hardships inflicted on many ex-internees who, although having prior to internment several years' stamps to their credit, have on their release after two to four years been deprived of unemployment until they have acquired 12 stamps in the insurance year following the period of enforced absence from employment in accordance with Section 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1920; and, if so, if he is prepared to grant relief in this matter by waiving the provisions of the section referred to, as has been done in the case of citizens who return to this country after an absence of two or more years' employment on war work in England.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ex-Internees and Unemployment Benefit.
Some ex-internees are disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit because no contribution was paid for them during at least one whole insurance year. I have no power to waive this disqualification, which is statutory. It is not proposed to introduce legislation to amend the Unemployment Assistance Acts for the purpose of enabling periods of internment to be disregarded in applying this disqualification to persons who have been interned. I should explain, however, that it is open to the persons concerned to apply for Unemployment Assistance.