asked the Minister for Health the circumstances under which British passport holders are entitled to free medical and hospital treatment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Passport Holders.
8.
Possession of a British passport does not, as such, entitle the holder to any medical services in this country. However, I want to make it clear that insured persons and social security pensioners coming to this country from the United Kingdom are entitled under EEC regulations for the social security of migrant workers to free general practitioner and hospital services for themselves and their dependants. Temporary visitors are entitled to these services only in the case of urgency. A similar arrangement operates in respect of Irish insured workers and pensioners in the United Kingdom.
United Kingdom visitors who have no entitlement under the EEC regulations are treated on the same basis as Irish citizens. That is to say, their eligibility is assessed on grounds of income and the level of services available to them is determined accordingly.