John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important legislation from the perspective of what it will mean in the context of social protection in particular. More than 132,000 people living here are in receipt of state pensions from England. Approximately 1,000 people living here receive child benefit payments from Britain in respect of children residing in this State. There are 28,760 people residing in Britain and the North who are in receipt of Irish contributory State pensions. Some 840 people residing in Britain and the North are in receipt of full-rate child benefit payments from this State. These payments are in respect of 1,830 children, 95% of whom live in the North. Unlike much of the debate on Brexit, the issues regarding protecting our current social protection arrangements concern real people, including some very vulnerable people, older people, children and families.

The importance of protecting those who rely on assistance from either England or Ireland is paramount but taking the Bill on its own the sections associated with social protection matters appear limited. I do acknowledge that the bulk of the necessary information forms part of the convention on social security that was recently signed by both Governments. This is the real safety net for those individuals, older people and families whose first thought after the Brexit vote was for the future payment of their source of income and for those who live in England and receive social assistance payments from Ireland and for those who live in Ireland and receive social assistance payments from England. What was crucial was the safeguarding of the reciprocal arrangements in place for rights and entitlements that currently exist for Irish and English citizens moving within the common travel area. I am glad that this has been achieved in the convention. It is not simply a document to maintain the status quo, it is a legally-binding agreement. It will bring comfort to the many thousands of people living here who receive payments from England and to Irish citizens living in England.

An issue I have raised with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty - I raise it again now - is the end to the overlapping of payments. The convention indicates that the right to two or more benefits of the same type will cease. The only payments concerned are the fuel allowance and the winter fuel payment. Neither is based on contributions made. At present, those living in Ireland can and do receive both payments, the fuel allowance from here and a winter fuel payment from England. This will not continue to be the case post Brexit. This does signal a change in current arrangements. The number of people living here in receipt of the winter fuel payment is not insignificant. In fact, the number has been growing rapidly since 2002, when only 660 people received the payment, to 31,656 people receiving it last year. I have sought clarification from the Minister as to what this will mean for those living here who do not qualify for the fuel allowance and only receive the winter fuel payment to ensure they will continue to receive it.

The bottom line is this: it is the convention signed by both Governments that provides the greatest protections when it comes to social protection, ensuring that what currently exists for Irish and British citizens moving between Ireland and Britain under the common travel area is safeguarded and maintained.

However, I ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, to clarify the situation in regard to the winter fuel payment. It is very important that she do so with urgency.

While discussing this important legislation that we hope will never need to be enacted, it is important to remember why we are dealing with this mess at the 11th hour with no deal in place. Brexit results from weak leadership within the Tory Party in Britain. It is very much the result of an internal squabble between two posh Tories. History shows that the Tories have no regard for Ireland, least of all the wishes of the people in the North who voted to remain in the EU. Indeed, the Tory mask slipped when one of its members suggested it could use potential food shortages in Ireland to pressurise the Government in the Brexit negotiations. This is important legislation for the people of Ireland whether they are in the North, the South, the east or the west and Sinn Féin will not oppose it. However, we will constructively try to strengthen it in the many areas where that is required.

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