Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 67 and 124 together.

My Department operates two main types of pension schemes, contributory and non-contributory payments. Contributory payments are paid on the basis of social insurance contributions made over a person's working life. The standard qualifying conditions for contributory pensions require an ongoing commitment to the social insurance system over a sustained period. However, special pensions such as the pre-1953 pension and other types of pro rata pensions are in place to cater for people with less than complete records. Missionaries who have made sufficient social insurance contributions can qualify for the State contributory pension. Contributory pensions are payable abroad, so qualifying missionaries who chose to settle overseas can receive payments.

The non-contributory pension is more problematic in that residence within the State is a pre-condition for receiving this pension. Any move to pay the old age non-contributory pension outside the State could cause difficulties in light of EU regulations on social security arrangements for migrant workers. The question of paying pensions to missionaries who remain abroad was first raised in the context of a submission to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs by the Irish Missionary Union. Subsequently, officials of my Department made a presentation to the committee on the issue. Following that presentation, the Chairman of the committee decided to form a working group to look at the issues raised in more detail.

My Department and Irish Aid are jointly drafting a report for the working group which will examine the question of pensions for missionaries and the wider issue of social insurance for volunteer development workers in general. That report will then be submitted to the working group for its consideration. The options for providing pensions for missionaries will be considered in the context of the final report of the joint committee.

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