Will the Minister accept that even if it has been thrashed out often in this House at least people think they are being knocked off the register for inadequate reasons? I am sure every Deputy, including the Minister, has had representations about such cases. Is that not a fact?

That is a fact.

Does it not appear then at least from the point of view of the persons concerned that there is a policy to knock people off the register?

There are two aspects to it. First of all, married women generally are under the impression that they should get the benefit just because they have stamps.

I am not making that case.

I know, but a lot of married women are under that impression and think they are being unfairly discriminated against. Unfortunately, the position is that they must be available for work. We keep adverting to that fact time and again, and all I can say is that if the Deputy has a certain case in mind he should give me the details and if the situation is as he says then we will make sure that the woman gets her benefit.

Question No. 67.

I am not sure that the Minister gets the point.

That is a matter for argument.

Will the Minister agree that one of the problems here is that a woman who is married is being refused benefit because she is married even though she has somebody available to look after her children and is available for work?

She should not be.

I am afraid she is, and that is generally accepted.