At present, my Department is negotiating: (a) an agreement with the Swiss Confederation on social security; the date of signing of this agreement has yet to be decided but will, possibly, take place in late-summer 1997 and (b) a convention on social security with the Government of the UK — the draft text of which is under finalisation.
Ireland has concluded bilateral social security agreements with Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Quebec and the United States. All these agreements have been put into operation.
The main purpose of bilateral social security agreements is to protect the pension rights of workers who have had periods of social insurance in both countries. The agreements also allow workers who are sent by their Irish employer to work in the other state, for short periods, to remain in the Irish Social Insurance system, thereby being exempt from double payment of social security contributions.
Ireland also has structures for co-ordinating social security with other EU member states and with the member states of the European economic area, i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The information sought in relation to multilateral conventions and treaties is being provided by my Government colleagues who have primary responsibility.
