Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if Ireland has any agreements with Canada regarding social payments; if not, if there are plans to do so and if there is a time scale regarding such an agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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A bilateral Social Security Agreement between Ireland and Canada came into force in January 1992.

The main purpose of the Agreement is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked in Ireland and who have worked or resided in Canada.

For example, if you do not have enough contributions paid or credited to qualify for an Irish pension, based on your Irish record alone, then periods of social insurance and/or residence in Canada may be counted to help you qualify for an Irish pension.

Likewise, if you do not have sufficient periods of social insurance/residence in Canada to qualify for a Canadian pension, reckonable Irish social insurance contributions may be counted to help you qualify for a Canadian pension.

The Agreement also deals with the Social Security status of workers who are sent on temporary assignments from Ireland to Canada.