asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his attention has been drawn to reports of 14th and 15th June outlining the pensions systems obtaining in the various member countries of the European Economic Community; whether his Department have yet carried out any investigation into the social security systems of these countries; if so, whether the results of any such investigations will be made available to Members or to the public; and whether, in view of this country's application for membership of the EEC and the fact that member-countries of the EEC propose under the Rome Treaty to equalise their social welfare systems, he considers it desirable that some outline of the social welfare systems obtaining in the present member-countries should be available to interested parties in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Security in EEC Countries.
23.
I have seen the newspaper articles referred to by the Deputy.
Information concerning the social security systems of the member countries of the European Economic Community is being studied in my Department but I am not aware that it is a fact, as stated by the Deputy, that these countries propose to equalise their social welfare systems. In view of the wide diversity of these systems, it is doubtful whether an outline of them would contribute to the formulation of any valid conclusions, but if I am satisfied at any future stage that information on these matters which would be of use to Deputies and the public can be made available I will provide it.