asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Social Welfare Acts so that contributions paid in Great Britain or in Northern Ireland will be reckonable for the purposes of widows' contributory pensions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Social Welfare Acts.
120.
By virtue of a reciprocal agreement made, on the 4th April, 1966, with the Government of the United Kingdom, employment contributions paid under the national insurance schemes of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of a deceased husband may generally, and subject to the widow being a person coming within the categories eligible for widows' benefit under the schemes mentioned, be taken into account for the purpose of establishing title to a widow's contributory pension under the Social Welfare Acts. No amendment of the agreement is at present contemplated.