John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the outcome of his recent meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; his main objectives ahead of the meeting and his views on the discussion concerning the continuation of the reciprocal rights that allow pensioners to claim the State benefit regardless of where they live in the two countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6426/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I met with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Hon. Damian Green, M.P. on Thursday, 2nd February 2017 to discuss two main issues, namely:

1. Information exchange on the UK’s welfare reforms with regard to pensions, working age and also illness payments; and

2. The social protection implications of the vote by the UK to leave the EU.

Social security is, clearly, one of the major issues as part of the Brexit process as it impacts on the daily lives of people. My meeting with the Secretary of State was part of the wider engagement by Government with our fellow EU Member States including the UK. Ireland, of course, will negotiate as part of the EU 27, when the UK triggers Article 50 and will be working with the UK and our EU partners to deliver the best possible result.

At present, and as with all EU and EEA Member States and Switzerland, the UK is part of the EU Regulations that co-ordinate the social security entitlements of people who work, live and move within the EU. These co-ordinating regulations do not harmonise the social security system of Member States but, rather, support free movement throughout the EU/EEA by removing barriers to workers. These arrangements will continue to apply and entitlements will remain unchanged until such time as the UK leaves the EU.

Ireland also has a Bilateral Agreement with the UK on social security [S.I. No 701/2007 – Convention on Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]. This Agreement consolidated the terms of earlier agreements, modified them to take account of legislative changes in both countries and extended their scope to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.

I emphasised to the Secretary of State that our long-term objective is to ensure that the reciprocity of civic rights and, specifically in the context of the meeting, social welfare rights and entitlements, which currently exist for Irish and UK citizens moving within Ireland and between Ireland and Britain under the Common Travel Area (CTA), are safeguarded and maintained. The meeting was very positive and constructive and it was agreed that officials from both Departments will work together and share information towards finding practical solutions.