asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will alter the practice of assessing as means the earnings of part-time fishermen and thus enable them to qualify for unemployment assistance, if necessary by the introduction of proposals for amending legislation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Part-time Fishermen — Unemployment Assistance.
Fishermen who work for an employer and receive wages or other remuneration are not assessed with means in respect of such employment. Fishermen who use their own boats or gear must be assessed with their net profits in the same way as other self-employed persons. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inequitable to provide for preferential treatment in respect of a particular group or class. It is not proposed to introduce amending legislation.
Does the Minister realise that a member of a crew fishing for a weekly wage is entitled while unemployed to draw unemployment assistance but a member of a crew fishing on a share basis has that share assessed against his means and that prohibits him from drawing unemployment assistance when he becomes unemployed?