Vol. 211 No. 1
asked the Minister for Social Welfare what progress has been made to date in his negotiations with the British Ministry of Pensions with regard to the possibility of holders of British pensions in Ireland getting increases in their pensions parallel with such increases in Britain; and whether such increases will now be granted.
75.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether his negotiations with the British authorities on reciprocal increases in British pensions held by residents in Ireland cover British Army pensions in Ireland; and, if so, whether holders of this type of pension will now receive increases.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
Preliminary discussions have taken place between officers of my Department and officers of the British Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance on the question of reciprocal arrangements between Irish old age, contributory, pensions and British retirement pensions. Satisfactory progress has been made but many problems have yet to be resolved and these are now being studied in the light of the discussions. I regret that it is not possible to say at this stage when the negotiations are likely to be concluded but every effort will be made to expedite them. I should emphasise, however, that, as I pointed out in reply to a question by Deputy Byrne on 14th April last, even if an agreement on reciprocal arrangements involving British retirement pensions and Irish old age, contributory, pensions can be reached, it does not necessarily follow that it will include the removal of the British restriction on the payment of increases in pensions to persons in this country; similar restrictions continue to apply in a number of countries having reciprocal arrangements with Great Britain including even some Commonwealth countries.
The discussions did not cover British army pensions; my Department does not administer any scheme of army pensions.
