Written answers

Tuesday, 4 April 2017

Department of Social Protection

Brexit Issues

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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368. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of British citizens living here and in receipt of a British state pension which is updated on an annual basis; if he has met with his British counterpart to discuss this matter; the provisions he plans to put in place to protect such citizens' pension rights post Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16575/17]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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369. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of Irish citizens living in the UK and in receipt of an Irish State pension; the impact he envisages Brexit having on such persons and their entitlements; the steps he has taken to date to protect such persons' persons rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16576/17]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together.

Statistics on the amount of people resident in Ireland in receipt of a UK pension are compiled by the UK Department of Work and Pensions. The most recent figure they have provided is 135,070.

There are 34,238 people resident in the UK in receipt of a pension paid by my Department.

The current arrangements for social security between Ireland and the UK have not changed. All social welfare payments, including pensions, made by the Department of Social Protection, continue to be paid as normal.

Social security arrangements between the UK and the EU27 have also not changed. The future operation of arrangements will, of course, be determined as part of the complex process of negotiating the UK’s exit from the EU.

Clearly, a key area of concern is the impact of Brexit on the current reciprocal arrangements for social security schemes and services between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland. The Government's long-term objective is to ensure that the reciprocity of civic rights and 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.

I have strongly emphasised the importance of this in my meetings with the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Right Hon. Damian Green, M.P. on 2nd February 2017 and with Mr Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, UK Department of Work and Pensions at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) on 8 December 2016. I have also underlined this issue during my bilateral meetings, to date, with my Ministerial colleagues from Romania, Malta, Germany and Denmark at several of the EPSCO meetings.

I am meeting with my German, French and Estonian Ministerial colleagues at the EPSCO meeting of 3-4 April and will again be highlighting Ireland’s concerns to ensure that they are fully reflected in the EU position as negotiations commence. In addition, as a member of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, I will take every opportunity to protect and advance this objective as will my officials.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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