Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when consideration will be given to offering old age pensions to Irish missionaries who have retired overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37513/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the estimated number of Irish missionaries retired overseas who might qualify for old age pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37514/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.

The Irish Missionary Union in its submission to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs indicated that there are 2,600 missionaries working in 90 countries. The Irish Missionary Union estimates that some 826 missionaries could qualify immediately for a pension, with a further 500 or so qualifying over the next five years.

Officials of my Department recently made a presentation to the joint committee on the proposals submitted by the Irish Missionary Union. Arising from that meeting, I understand that a working group will be formed. It will be chaired by the chairman of the joint committee, Deputy Woods, and will further explore and develop the issues involved. My Department will be represented on that group. The question of providing pensions for missionaries who retire abroad will be considered in the light of the conclusions of the working group.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it is expected to extend bilateral social welfare agreements with other countries with a view to maximising entitlement to pension for persons retiring overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37516/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has social security agreements with seven countries, namely, Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Switzerland. These agreements came into effect between 1989 and 1999, except for that with the United Kingdom, which came into effect in 1971. Ireland also has a bilateral understanding with Quebec since 1 October 1994.

All of these agreements are currently in operation work satisfactorily. The main purpose of these agreements is to protect the social security pension rights of workers who have worked both in Ireland and the other country to which the agreement applies. In the case of Austria and Switzerland, they have limited application, as the EU regulations normally apply.

An updated social security agreement with the United Kingdom, which provides for workers moving between Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands has been signed and it is hoped to have it ratified in the near future.

A revised social security agreement with Australia was signed on 9 June 2005 and its terms were approved by the House on 22 November. The necessary steps are under way to bring it into force on 1 January 2006.

Discussions have been held between officials of my Department and their counterparts in New Zealand regarding revision of that agreement also. As in the case of Australia, the amendments to the Irish provisions are likely to be few.

Discussions are ongoing between officials of my Department and the Government of the Republic of Korea regarding the text of a proposed agreement. It is hoped that final agreement on the text will be reached shortly, and I will then be in a position to seek the approval of this House.

There are no other plans at present to extend the number of countries with which Ireland has bilateral agreements on social security. However, the matter is kept under review by my officials and further consideration will be given to any case which is warranted by the number of persons who have worked both in Ireland and the other country.