To qualify for unemployment benefit——

You are protecting the Minister.

——a person must satisfy the condition——

The Deputy should withdraw that remark. I am trying to maintain order and I have many disorderly people opposite me.

You have no one opposite you.

Ceist 8.

On a point of order we cannot hear the reply.

To qualify for unemployment benefit a person must satisfy the condition——

We cannot hear the Minister.

If I do not get order for Question Time I will adjourn the House. Question Time is being turned into a Bedlam.

We have to get the reply.

Will the Minister answer Question No. 8 please?

I have made three attempts.

8.

andDr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social Welfare his Department's policy in relation to claims for unemployment benefit by mothers of newly born babies who consciously decide to breast-feed their babies for a period exceeding the six weeks allowed for maternity benefit purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To qualify for unemployment benefit a person must satisfy the condition of being capable of and available for work. In determining whether this condition is satisfied a deciding officer would have regard to all the circumstances in each particular case including the claimant's occupation, employment history and domestic arrangements. There are no specific conditions in the case of mothers who breast feed their babies and the Department do not operate any special policy related solely to such cases.

Would the Minister accept that the relevant qualification of being available for employment applies in these cases? Mothers are available for work but because creche facilities are not available they cannot go back to their jobs.

That is another question.

It is not.

Once a mother indicates that she is available for work and we are satisfied that she is capable of working there is no problem.

There is, I have had three problems.

A question, Deputy, please.

I am explaining to the Minister that I wrote to him about three separate cases in my own constituency within the past three weeks. In each case on appeal the mother was refused on the basis that she was not available for employment. If a mother consciously decides to nurse her baby, after the six weeks' period of maternity benefit runs out, she is technically available for and capable of employment. Because creche facilities are not provided by her employer, through no fault of her own she cannot go back to her job until she has finished nursing her baby. In those circumstances, would the Minister not consider that an exception should be made and unemployment benefit should be paid when the maternity benefit period finishes?

I do not think I could concede exceptions. I agree with the development of creches and I hope there will be development along those lines. If it is indicated that a person is not available for work she does not qualify for benefit. Once you start making exceptions you are in trouble.

I understand from officials in the Department——

A question Deputy, please.

Is the Minister aware that I have been told by officials in his Department that were nursing mothers to attend their local GP and get a certificate saying they were ill or disabled, they would qualify for unemployment benefit? The qualification of availability for work does not apply in this instance.

They would not be eligible for unemployment benefit because, if they sent in a certificate from a doctor indicating illness——

What about disability benefit?

I am talking about unemployment benefit. They would not be eligible.

They would be eligible for disability benefit although they are not disabled.

That would be a matter for the doctors.

Will the Minister look at this again in the light of the case we made here today?

We can certainly look at it. I do not want to give the impression that I will go off and make special arrangements. That would be wrong of me. I will look at it and, if anything can be done, it will be done.

9.