Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 66: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is entitled to a medical card here based on their work and pension rights in the UK. [2912/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation (EC) 1408/71 deals with the coordination of social security schemes, including healthcare, for those moving within the European Union. Under its provisions, persons residing in Ireland who are attached to the social security system of another member state are entitled to receive healthcare services in Ireland at the cost of the member state with which they are affiliated. This is in accordance with Annex VI of the Regulation (text relating to Ireland), which states that such persons "are entitled free of charge to all medical treatment provided for by Irish legislation where the cost of this treatment is payable by the institution of a Member State other than Ireland."

Persons covered by the above Regulation include persons in receipt of a qualifying UK pension, or UK employed persons who are resident in Ireland and not also in receipt of a contributory social welfare payment or pension from Ireland and who are not employed in Ireland, and their dependants. Such persons receive a medical card as evidence of their entitlement under the provisions of Regulation 1408/71. Being a British National does not, of itself, guarantee entitlement.