asked the Minister for Health the classes of persons from Ireland who are eligible for free health services in the EEC countries; and the classes of persons from other EEC countries who are eligible for full health services in Ireland.

Irish persons who have eligibility under EEC regulations are those who are insured under the Irish social welfare legislation or have contributory pensions under that legislation or the dependants of such persons. If the eligible Irish person is resident in another EEC country he is entitled to full medical services on the same basis as an eligible person in that country. If he is a short-term visitor to another EEC country his entitlement is confined to whatever urgent medical attention he may require.

A national of another EEC country who is insured under the social security legislation of that country or has a contributory pension under that legislation, or the dependants of such a person, has entitlement under the EEC regulations while in Ireland. If he is resident in Ireland he is entitled to the full range of Irish health services while if he is a short-term visitor to Ireland he is entitled to receive whatever urgent medical attention he may require.

The cost of services provided under the EEC regulations is the responsibility of the country where the person concerned is insured. This responsibility may be discharged between two countries by the country with the greater liability making a net payment or by an agreement to waive all payments by both countries.

Is the Minister aware of the situation whereby a non-contributory old-age pensioner who may have reason to visit another EEC country is not entitled to any health benefit in that country?

That is the position.

Would the Minister agree, then, that such an impoverished person would be at a disadvantage should he wish to visit another EEC country for the purpose, say, of seeing relatives? Can anything be done to remedy this situation? Is there not a serious disparity between entitlements for Irish people going abroad compared with people from other EEC countries in terms of the level of health services in each country?

That is as far as the regulations have gone.

But what about the situation of non-contributory old age pensioners?

There appears to be unfair discrimination as between contributory and non-contributory old age pensioners in this regard.

I have a particular case in mind and I am wondering whether the Minister can do anything to help a non-contributory old age pensioner who finds himself in difficulties in another country in regard to health services.

The matter could be dealt with only at European level.