Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if the agreement still stands whereby the health care costs of pensioners living here who have paid national insurance in the UK while living and working here are covered and then reimbursed by the British Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28118/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Regulation (EC) 1408/71 co-ordinates health and social security arrangements among EU member states (it also applies in the remaining EEA member states and Switzerland). Under these provisions, people who are insured with (covered by) the healthcare system of one EU member state are entitled to receive healthcare in the public system of another member state in certain circumstances, at the cost of the member state in which they are insured.

Ireland operates a bilateral healthcare reimbursement agreement with the United Kingdom, arising from the application of Regulation (EC) 1408/71. The agreement comprehends such persons as temporary visitors between the two countries; pensioners of one country residing in the other country and their dependants; and the dependants residing in one country of people who are employed in the other country. The amount due is the net difference between the costs to the Irish health services of providing care to those with UK entitlements and the cost to the UK health services of providing services to those with Irish entitlements. Allowance is also made for those with dual entitlements in both jurisdictions.

Under the terms of the agreement net liability between the two countries is calculated on a lump sum basis rather than an individual basis. Officials from my Department liaise regularly with their UK counterparts in discussions on the application of the agreement and I can confirm to the Deputy that the bilateral agreement continues to operate.