In assessing the means of a non-contributory pensioner in the Republic, does the Minister take into consideration the value of the British pension at the sterling rate or at the rate of the Irish currency?

I am afraid I do not understand the question. The question here deals with a very real, current problem, that is, the fact that Irish pensioners receiving pensions in Britain and British pensioners receiving their pensions here now have to contend with a new situation in regard to currency changes. As I have said, that situation is under active review at present between all the appropriate Ministries concerned.

That is not worth very much to the pensioners concerned.

I do not know how the Minister can find this very difficult to understand. If an Irish person is in receipt of a British pension——

It was the Deputy's question I did not understand.

Perhaps I may be permitted to repeat it: if an Irish national is working in Britain and is in receipt of a reduced contributory British pension, does the Minister consider the value of sterling when assessing the means in order to award that person a non-contributory pension in the Republic?

I just do not understand the question. The Deputy is talking about a person in receipt of a contributory pension getting a non-contributory pension.

No, I am talking about a British pension and about a supplementary non-contributory pension. Does it embarrass the Minister to admit that we have lost out on the break with sterling and that it is the ordinary people who are paying? Does it not embarrass the Minister? Have they all not made a big blunder? Those pensioners are not getting the pensions they are entitled to.

All the Minister can say is that the matter is under active consideration.

Order. This has nothing to do with the question on the Order Paper.

Why is the Chair protecting the Minister?

The Chair is concerned with the questions on the Order Paper. The question the Deputy is now asking has nothing to do with the question on the Order Paper.

I am asking the Minister, in relation to the value of the Irish pound, if he is aware that Irish pensioners in receipt of British pensions——

The Deputy is asking about a means test.

I am not. Why are you protecting the Minister?

The Minister is not doing his job in relation to this matter.

Question Time is not for statements of this kind. I am calling Question No. 41.

I will repeat what I said. There is a problem in relation to British pensioners receiving their pensions here and it is under active consideration with the paying Departments in Britain.