Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 4

Written Answers. - International Agreements.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

260 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the international agreements under the auspices of his Department which, as of 1 June 1998, have not been signed by the State and which it is proposed that the State should sign or become a party to; the international organisation, if any, responsible for the agreement in each case; the date and place each agreement was adopted or opened for signature; and when it is proposed to sign each agreement or become a party to it. [13969/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 258 and 260 together.

There are a series of international agreements and Conventions relating to and including social security matters which it is open to Ireland to become party to or to ratify.

Among the main such instruments is the Council of Europe's European code of Social Security. Ireland has ratified five parts of the code, namely those relating to sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, old age benefit, family benefit and survivor's benefit. To date it has not been possible to ratify the remaining four parts dealing with medical care, employment injury benefit, maternity benefit and invalidity benefit. However, these parts are subject to review to establish whether or not ratification has become possible.

A revised code was opened for signature by member states of the Council of Europe on 5 November 1990. To date, Ireland has not signed or ratified this revised code.

Ireland has ratified a similar ILO Convention No. 102 concerning minimum standards of social security on 17 June 1968, and accepted parts of the convention relating to sickness benefit, unemployment benefit and survivor's benefit. A similar review procedure in relation to its unratified parts, medical care, old age benefit, employment injury benefit, family benefit, maternity benefit and invalidity benefit applies as in the case of the European code.

Detailed provisions for the co-ordination of social security schemes throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area are contained in Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 1408/71 and 574/72. These regulations provide for the co-ordination of social security schemes for employed and self-employed people and their families moving throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area. They also cover refugees, stateless persons who are residing in an EU/EEA member state as well as members of their family (regardless of their nationality) and their survivors.

The Council of Europe's European Convention on Social Security was opened for signature by the member states of the Council of Europe on 14 December 1972, and was signed by Ireland on 23 February 1979, but has not yet been ratified.

The convention is designed to ensure, in each ratifying country, equality of treatment in social security for nationals of other ratifying countries and for refugees and stateless persons and also to ensure that entitlement to social security benefits is maintained despite changes of residence within such countries.

To date, eight of the member states of the Council of Europe viz. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Turkey, have ratified the convention. All, except Turkey, are members of the European Union and, accordingly, the social security entitlements of persons moving between Ireland and those countries are already protected by the EU regulations on social security.

Consideration will be given to signing and ratifying a Protocol to this convention, which was opened for signature on 11 May 1994, in the con-text of any future review on whether Ireland should ratify the main convention.

The Council of Europe's European Interim Agreements on social security were signed by Ireland on 11 December 1953 and ratified on 31 March 1954.

The information sought in relation to other multilateral agreements is being provided by my Government colleagues who have primary responsibility.