Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Jun 1994

Vol. 443 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Security Schemes Regulations.

Ivor Callely

Question:

61 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Social Welfare the EU regulation in relation to the one stamp rule whereby a social welfare applicant requires one additional stamp in the country in which they are applying for benefit; the action, if any, he has taken to address the difficulties this regulation presents; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The EU regulation to which the Deputy refers is Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 and the implementing Regulation No. 574/72. These regulations provide for the co-ordination of social security schemes for workers, self-employed persons and their families moving throughout the European Union. With effect from 1 January 1994 they also apply to certain EFTA states, namely, Finland, Austria, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The one stamp rule relates to unemployment benefit.

There is a number of options available to unemployed Irish people who last worked in an EU member state or one of the other states referred to above. They can, subject to satisfying certain conditions, have their unemployment benefit payments from the state in which they were last employed paid to them for up to three months when they return to Ireland in search of work. They can on returning to Ireland qualify for Irish benefit if they satisfy the conditions for entitlement based on their Irish PRSI contribution record. Their Irish unemployment benefit is, however, not payable for any period during which they are in receipt of unemployment benefit from another member state.

If a person fails to qualify for Irish unemployment benefit based on his-her Irish PRSI contribution record, there is provision, under the EU legislation referred to above, for taking into account periods of insurance or employment in all states to which the regulation applies in order to determine an individual's entitlement to unemployment benefit. In order for such periods to be aggregated it is necessary that the person was last insured or employed in the state in which unemployment benefit is claimed. This provision, together with other provisions of Regulations (EEC) Nos. 1408/71 and 574/72, are directly applicable in and binding on all states concerned.

We have raised the issue at Social Affairs Council level particularly in relation to countries where we have "close ties", such as the UK. There is no agreement to amend the present arrangements which are set out in the EU regulations.