asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that during strikes of dockers in Cork, workers who were not involved in the strikes were refused payments at the employment exchange, and whether, in view of the hardships caused to these men and their families, he will take steps to ensure that in future such stoppages will not affect workers who are not employed when a strike occurs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Unemployment Benefit to non-Strikers.
The disallowances mentioned are made in pursuance of the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance or the Unemployment Assistance Acts, whichever may be applicable in particular cases. Any person who is aggrieved by the decision in his case has a statutory right of appeal to a court of referees. The suggestion in the concluding part of the question would require amending legislation. I have been in communication with both trade union congresses in this matter and have intimated my willingness to discuss proposals for the limiting of the trade dispute disqualification for unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance.