Vol. 569 No. 5
127 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of countries with which Ireland has bilateral social welfare agreements; if it is intended to extend this number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18211/03]
Ireland has concluded bilateral social security agreements with seven countries: Austria, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland. Ireland also entered into a bilateral understanding with Quebec on 1 October 1994. All of these agreements are currently in operation. A further agreement has been negotiated with the Republic of Korea, and full ratification of this agreement is expected shortly. The main purpose of these agreements is to protect the social security pension rights of workers who have worked both in Ireland and the other country to which the agreements apply.
The bilateral agreements mainly provide for the adding together of periods of insurance and, where appropriate, periods treated as equivalent to periods of insurance completed in Ireland and the other country involved, for the purposes of calculating and awarding pensions. These pensions can also be paid to those residing in the territory of the other country. Consideration is given to concluding further such bilateral agreements, if warranted by the numbers employed in Ireland and the other country concerned, or where a request is received from another country.
Question No. 128 answered with Question No. 29.
