asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware that the next-of-kin of deceased persons who accumulated post-war credits while in employment in Britain are not permitted to translate such credits into cash unless they have reached the age of 60 years in the case of a woman and 65 years in the case of a man; and, further, that this is unfair to relatives of deceased persons who lodged their earnings in this fashion; and, if so, whether he will make representations to the British Government to permit Irish people who have not yet reached the required age to translate such post-war credits into cash.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post-War Credits.
I understand that Section 26 of the British Finance Act of 1946 provides that payment of British post-war credits shall only be authorised in the cases of men and women who have attained the ages of 65 and 60 years respectively.
In the event of the death of a person entitled to post-war credits, his right to the credit passes to his personal representative who may deal with it as part of the deceased's estate. The deceased's personal representative may then apply to have the certificate made out in the names of the beneficiaries and, in that case, the age limits mentioned apply to the beneficiaries.
The regulations under which these credits are repaid are applicable to British subjects resident in Great Britain as well as to Irish citizens who worked in Great Britain during and since the war and who may now be back in this country or whose next-of-kin, in the case of deceased Irish citizens, are resident here. A request to the British Government to allow immediate repayment to Irish citizens would amount to asking them to treat our citizens more favourably than their own and representations of the nature contemplated in the Deputy's question, would have no prospect of success.
Has the Minister any idea of the amount that is involved?
No, I have not.