asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has seen the recent statement by the British Minister of Pensions and National Insurance that the reason why increased pensions are not paid to British retirement pensioners living in Ireland is because at the time of the signing of the present agreement this State did not have a contributory pension scheme; and, if, as a contributory scheme is now in operation here, he will ask the British Government to agree to pay increased pensions to all their retirement pensioners residing here.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Pensioners in Ireland.
36.
I have seen the report referred to but I do not agree with the Deputy's interpretation of the Minister's reply. As I informed the Deputy in reply to his question of 10th June last, the failure of the British authorities to pay increases of retirement pensions to persons living in this country has already been raised in connection with proposed reciprocal arrangements with Great Britain involving pensions following the introduction of the old age (contributory) pensions scheme here in 1961. During discussions on these arrangements, my attitude to the restrictions on the payment of British pensions has repeatedly been made clear and every effort has been made to have the restrictions lifted.
Considerable progress towards a reciprocal agreement on pensions has been made between officers of my Department and officers of the British Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance. Further discussions of outstanding matters will take place shortly.
Will the Minister concede that this is the first occasion on which the British Minister has gone on record as publicly giving his Government's reason for not entering into a reciprocal arrangement before this? Could the Minister give an indication to the House when he expects the present negotiations will come to a conclusion?
I hope they will come to a conclusion shortly. Of course, the Minister was giving reasons why there were not reciprocal arrangements but there was no implication that the conclusion of the reciprocal agreement would necessarily involve unfreezing the rates of pensions. That is a completely separate matter which is being considered in connection with the reciprocal arrangements. It will not necessarily be a part of the agreement. It may or it may not.
There is a ray of hope?
Yes.