Vol. 436 No. 2
41 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the regulation which requires a returning emigrant to pay one stamp in Ireland before they can qualify for benefits, particularly in view of the fact that such a rule is not applied by our EC partner, the UK.
The requirement which the Deputy refers to is contained in EC Social Security Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72 and relates to unemployment benefit. These regulations contain detailed provisions for the co-ordination of social security schemes throughout the European Union and are binding on and directly applicable in all member states.
Provision is made for taking periods of insurance or employment in all member states into account in determining an individual's entitlement to unemployment benefit. In order for such periods to be aggregated it is necessary that the person was last insured or employed in the member state in which unemployment benefit is claimed. This provision is applied by all member states including the United Kingdom.
