asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to harmonise social welfare payments and benefits with other EC countries, and in particular with the United Kingdom.
48.
Written Answers. - Harmonisation of Social Welfare Payments.
47.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline the implications of the EC Social Charter and the Commission's Action Programme for social welfare legislation and regulations in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
The European Social Charter has implications for the social welfare system in relation to two broad areas. The first area concerns the adequacy and comprehensiveness of the social security protection afforded under the social welfare system and the charter refers in particular in this regard to workers and the elderly. This is one area where implementation of the charter will be mainly the responsibility of the member states and, in this regard, the provisions of the charter are fully in line with Government policy.
As Minister with responsibility for that policy, I am embarked on a major programme of increasing substantially in real terms the lowest levels of social welfare payments and of maintaining the levels of the other payments at least in line with increases in the cost of living. Significant improvements in the nature and quality of social welfare protection have also been made, most notably by the extension of social insurance to the self-employed, and I am committed to continuing this process.
These improvements in the social welfare system will also contribute to one of the main aims of the Social Charter which is the achievement of greater social cohesion between the various regions in the European Community. The aim at the very least is to prevent existing disparities in relation to living and working conditions between regions of the Community being exacerbated and to reduce these disparities significantly over time.
However, it is not considered that harmonisation of social security systems is necessary to achieve this. Instead the Commission are proposing in their action programme a strategy for the convergence of objectives in relation to social protection. This approach would not require major structural changes to social security systems, which vary greatly in nature from one member state to another, but would contribute to reducing regional imbalances in this area. The Commission intend in this regard to submit a recommendation to Council setting out the objectives which all member states would aim to achieve in relation to social protection. The Commission also intend to submit similar proposals on common criteria for the provision of adequate resources and social assistance to the least advantaged citizens of the Community and the elderly, in particular.
Ireland fully supports the initiatives which the Commission are taking in this area and during the course of the Irish Presidency I will be pressing to have priority given to having such proposals brought forward for consideration by the Council of Ministers.
A considerable degree of convergence in the area of social security has already been achieved between Ireland and the United Kingdom. Most contingencies are catered for under both systems and comparisons show that when allowance is made for the different mix of schemes, rates of taxation and the cost of living in both countries, the differences in rates of benefit and level of cover are not substantial.
The second broad area in relation to which the charter has implications for the social welfare system concerns freedom of movement and, in particular, the protection of the social security entitlements of persons who move to other member states to work and/or reside. EC Regulations on social security for migrant workers provide for the protection of the basic social security entitlements of persons moving to other EC countries. However, certain categories of persons who are not active as employed or self-employed persons are not fully protected by these regulations and I consider that the protection afforded to persons who are unemployed is unduly restrictive. In addition, there is no provision at present at EC level to protect entitlements acquired under occupational pension schemes.
Ireland has always been fully supportive of measures to protect the social security entitlements of persons moving between member states and this approach will continue in relation to any further proposals which are made to extend the existing level of protection. I will also, during the course of the Irish Presidency, be pressing for priority to be given to having proposals in this area brought forward with a view to having a comprehensive system for the protection of social security entitlements both under statutory and occupational schemes in place by 1992.