Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion on a European Council regulation on social security. Across the EU there has been a drift away from assisting those in need at the fringes of society. Regardless of our massive wealth, there are still pockets of serious social and educational disadvantage. When we look at the social security system, it is appropriate to have this debate. Just because many people are doing well in a vibrant economy does not mean everyone is moving on. Every Member of the Oireachtas has a responsibility to ensure the bottom 20% of Irish society is given a leg up.

One of the most important strategies to achieve this is the use of social security policy. The regulations co-ordinate social security systems within the EU and are designed to remove obstacles to freedom of movement which otherwise arise from loss or reduction of social security cover or entitlements when a person moves from one country to another.

Since the adoption of Regulation 859/2003, third country nationals who have worked in two or more member states, and their family members and survivors, can rely on Regulation 1408/71 on the same basis as EU nationals provided they are legally resident in the territory of an EU members state. Therefore, a third country national, for example, who becomes unemployed having worked legally in Ireland, can rely on the aggregation of social insurance paid there and in another state to quality for job seeker's benefit. We must support those who find themselves unemployed, not just Irish people but everyone who has contributed to the economy. Those countries in the west with strong economies also have an international responsibility to distribute wealth to poorer countries. This is a national, European and international issue.

The current Commission proposal aims to extend to third country nationals the provisions of the regulation. The current proposal pursues the same objective as Regulation 859/2003. The scope of Regulation 883/2004 is wider than Regulation 1408/71 in that the former also covers persons who are non-active, not just workers as heretofore, and legally resident third country nationals.

The legal basis for this regulation allows the Council to adopt measures to uphold the rights and conditions of nationals of third countries who are legally resident in a member state to reside in other member states. We have a moral, political and international responsibility to ensure that people in all European countries receive the relevant social support to which they are entitled. We should heed all viewpoints in this most important debate.

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