asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he is aware that persons resident in the Twenty-Six Counties but working in the Six Counties who, under recent regulations, commenced to pay National Health Insurance contributions to the Six County authorities, having previously contributed to the National Health Insurance Society, may not draw benefit for a considerable period and, should they become ill, derive no advantage from social insurance in either jurisdiction; and, if so, whether he will state what steps he has taken, or proposes to take, in regard to the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Insurance in Six and in Twenty-Six Counties.
Mr. Blaney
Persons resident in this country who work in Northern Ireland have always been and still are insured under the Acts in force in Northern Ireland. Under reciprocal arrangements made in 1924, the contributions of such persons paid in Northern Ireland for sickness and maternity insurance were, however, treated as having been paid under our legislation and the persons in respect of whom they were paid were entitled to be members of and to receive benefits from the National Health Insurance Society. The Northern Ireland law under which these reciprocal arrangements were made was repealed as from 5th July last, when the new scheme came into force and the arrangements consequently lapsed. Negotiations are at present in progress for the making of new arrangements and it is hoped that they will be completed shortly.
In the meantime, however, all title to benefit of such persons from the National Health Insurance Society up to the end of the year is governed by contributions paid in the contribution years 1946-47 and 1947-48 and, consequently, the position of such persons has not so far been affected by the change in the Northern Ireland scheme.
Mr. Blaney
Does this mean that those people who had been paying insurance in Northern Ireland, say in 1946-47 and 1947-48, are as yet entitled to relief from the National Health Insurance Society here?
As I explained to the Deputy, their entitlement to benefit is governed by the contributions paid by them in the contribution years 1946-47 and 1947-48 and, consequently, the position of such persons is not so far affected by the change in the Northern Ireland scheme.
Mr. Blaney
Will the Minister state to what date this question of retrospective payments in the two years mentioned by him will entitle those people to payment? When will they meet the position when they will not come under the old law?
As I have explained to the Deputy in reply to his first question, all entitlement to such benefits from the National Health Insurance Society up to the end of this year is governed by the contributions in the years 1946-47 and 1947-48, so that if persons have contributed in the years 1946-47 and 1947-48 their entitlement to benefit is clear up to the end of this year. Meantime negotiations are proceeding to revive, perhaps on a wider basis, arrangements which lapsed in Northern Ireland consequent on the introduction of their National Health Act which became operative on July 5th last.
Mr. Blaney
Payments are made up to the end of 1949——
Yes.
Mr. Blaney
——and if so there are no grievances arising out of the new Act of July 5th.
The Deputy is saying there are grievances.
Mr. Blaney
That is what I am led to believe. I referred the matter to the National Health Insurance Society here and briefly, as far as I can remember, their reply was to the effect that they also were aware that something of this nature did arise and that the question is being gone into.
I have explained what the general position is with regard to entitlement to benefit and I have intimated to the Deputy that negotiations are in progress with the Northern Ireland Government to effect a comprehensive agreement. If he knows any case at the moment where he thinks a person is not receiving the rights or benefits to which he is entitled on the general lines of my reply, perhaps he might take the matter up with the National Health Insurance Society, who would be glad to clarify the position for him. All these difficulties will be cleared up when the negotiations are concluded.