John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste and acknowledge that I received the correspondence from her Department. I first wish to make clear that I have no problem that some people can be dismissed for gross misconduct. I am not making that argument. However, there are those who make mistakes in their lives, who are constructively dismissed or who leave employment because of bullying or psychological problems. As the legislation stands, all such people are disbarred from social welfare payments for ten weeks and some compassion should be shown in this regard. At present, we isolate someone who is a family member or an individual and who relies solely on a social welfare payment when he or she leaves his or her job. It is wrong that such a person is left for ten weeks without a payment. I ask that a ruling be made to ensure nobody is left isolated for a period of two months or ten weeks without payment of any sort from the State. That is wrong and has dire social consequences. I again make the point that there is no way under any circumstances whereby the social welfare payments of anyone who has been dismissed from his or her job and is going through a procedure of unfair dismissal should be stopped until a decision has been made.

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