asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state whether reciprocal arrangements have yet been agreed upon by the Governments of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the payment of unemployment insurance benefits; and, if so, when these persons who were formerly employed in Great Britain and Northern Ireland but who are now unemployed in this country will be able to derive benefits from cards stamped while working in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

Discussions between officials of my Department and representatives of the British Ministry of National Insurance and the Northern Ireland Ministry of Labour and National Insurance on the subject of reciprocity in social insurance, including unemployment insurance, took place recently in Dublin. The matters discussed are still under consideration and it is not possible to anticipate the result or to indicate the date of operation of any reciprocal arrangements regarding unemployment insurance which may be made.

The British and Northern Ireland National Insurance Acts, which enable reciprocal arrangements to be made, will not come into operation until the 5th July next and any arrangements for reciprocity for unemployment insurance which may be made will not operate before that date.