Interim support for Castlecomer workers
Pattison sought interim payments for Castlecomer workers barred from unemployment benefit; Woods said supplementary welfare was available to their families and other arrangements fell outside this legislation. The Chair then deferred the remaining questions.
Would the Minister consider some way of paying workers who are debarred from receiving unemployment benefit because of section 35? Am I correct in assuming that the Minister will go ahead with the necessary amendment? Can the Minister not anticipate the amending legislation and arrange for payments to be made, because if some way can be found to pay people in a similar position in an election campaign, surely some way must be found to pay the workers in Castlecomer? Just because there is no election campaign at present they should not be left without payment.
Comment on this
The question of Castlecomer is a completely different one which can be dealt with when it comes up.
Comment on this
Supplementary welfare is available at present for families of workers who are in dispute in that way. The question of any other arrangements would be outside the scope of this legislation.
