Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 6 May 1927

Vol. 8 No. 24

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION CONVENTION.

Mr. O'FARRELL

I move:—

That Seanad Eireann approves of the ratification in respect of Saorstát Eireann of the Convention concerning Workmen's Compensation for Occupational Diseases and of the acceptance of the Recommendation concerning Workmen's Compensation for Occupational Diseases adopted on the 10th June, 1925, at the Seventh Session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva.

This is merely a motion approving of the ratification of this Convention, arrived at by the International Labour Conference, under Part 13 of the Treaty of Versailles. It provides that the dependents of employees losing their lives or suffering from disease as the result of handling lead, poisoning by mercury or anthrax infection, shall receive compensation in the same way as if they lost their lives or incurred injury through any other accident in the discharge of their duties. I am informed that it will require no new legislation, as the laws relating to workmen's compensation already in existence are sufficient to cover the Convention, and that all that is required is merely for this House to approve of the ratification of the Convention in respect of Saorstát Eireann as one of the affiliated nations to the International Labour Office.

Dr. GOGARTY

I second the motion. I think we are more or less bound to accept it because it has been agreed to at Geneva. We have a representative there and we are more or less involved in the agreement reached inasmuch as there was no protest. I think two of the diseases mentioned by the Senator are the two most incapacitating on the list and are diseases that bring the Workmen's Compensation Acts to a focus, so to speak. This is merely a matter of ratifying it, and I do not think it will involve any further legislation.

Motion put and agreed to.