asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that numbers of Irish citizens who have returned home from Great Britain after working there for two or three years have brought with them their stamped insurance cards with stamps value 7/- per week; and, if so, if he will state whether they have any value in this country and if there is any reciprocity between the two countries to pay unemployment benefits based on the value of these stamps.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reciprocity between Ireland and Britain.
The reciprocal arrangements in the matters of insurance for sickness benefit and maternity benefit and insurance for unemployment benefit, made in 1948 and 1949, respectively, with the Minister of National Insurance in Great Britain may be availed of on their return here by persons who have had contributions paid in respect of employment in Great Britain.
Under the agreement relating to unemployment benefit, certain contributions for unemployment insurance paid in one country may, on specified conditions, be made available for payment of unemployment benefit in the other country.