Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

International Agreements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 April 2019

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Ceisteanna (336)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

336. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which she has direct contact with other jurisdictions with which a bilateral arrangement for social welfare exists with particular reference to the need to ensure a smooth and expeditious process in dealing with claims, particularly in circumstances in which contributions in two or more jurisdictions arise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16014/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Ireland has negotiated Bilateral Social Security Agreements with a number of countries.  The main purpose of these Agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has such agreements.  This is achieved by allowing reckonable social security contributions paid in one or more of these countries to be aggregated with Irish full-rate social insurance contributions for the purposes of qualifying for certain contributory payments in Ireland or in these countries.

Liaison arrangements are in place with the relevant authorities of the countries with which Ireland has Social Security Agreements in order to facilitate the operation of these arrangements.

If the Deputy has a particular case in mind where there have been difficulties or delays and provides my office with details of it, I will have the matter examined.

Barr
Roinn