With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 to 32, inclusive, together.
As I stated in reply to previous questions on this subject before the summer recess, discussions took place between officials of my Department, the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the British Department of Health and Social Security about the problems of paying Irish pensions in Britain and British pensions in Ireland following the break in parity between the British and Irish currencies. As neither the British nor the Irish post offices operate a currency conversion service the following arrangements have been agreed.
British pensioners resident in Ireland will be paid their pensions in sterling by payable orders cashable through banks with effect from 15 October 1979. The pensioners concerned are being notified individually of these arrangements by the British Department of Health and Social Security. In the meantime, as an interim arrangement, Irish post offices continued to cash British pensions at face value up to 12 October 1979.
As regards the amount by which British pensioners have been underpaid at post offices by reason of receiving one punt for each pound sterling, arrangements have been made to compensate them fully for the difference in the exchange rates between the Irish and British currencies for the period April to mid-October 1979. This payment is being made this month at post offices. Similarly, since the beginning of August Irish pensioners residing in Britain are being paid by cheque cashable at banks at the prevailing exchange rate.
