asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, in view of the fact that a number of railway workers in Dublin have been dismissed their employment due to the electricians' dispute over which the dismissed men have no control and that because of this they are not permitted to draw their unemployment benefits, he will have this injustice to workers who were not involved in the dispute remedied.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if, further to his reply of the 5th November, 1952, he will consider taking steps to have unemployment benefits extended to those persons who, through no fault of their own, have been disemployed due to the strike of Córas Iompair Éireann electricians.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to answer Questions Nos. 23 and 24 together.

The law provides that an insured contributor who has lost employment owing to a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute at the factory, workshop or other premises at which he was employed shall be disqualified for receiving unemployment benefit.

Deputies will understand that as this is a statutory disqualification I have no power to waive it. Any person whose claim to unemployment benefit is disallowed may, if he is dissatisfied with the decision, appeal to the Court of Referees.

Might I ask if it is the Minister's opinion that the men who were suspended from employment are not entitled to unemployment benefit although they are in no way implicated or concerned in this strike?

I am stating what the law is.

Is there a law to that effect? Is that the law or is it the Minister's opinion?

It is the law.

That a man suspended from employment is not entitled to unemployment benefit?

If it arises out of a trade dispute he is not entitled to benefit.

These men are not in the least concerned in this strike. These men were put out of work because there is no work for them.

That is a different matter. They would be entitled to benefit unless it is owing to a trade dispute.