UK pension and benefit reciprocity
Willie O'Dea asked for reassurance that reciprocal social welfare and pension arrangements with the UK, including Northern Ireland, would be protected after Brexit. The Taoiseach said they would continue and confirmed the arrangements should be seamless.
Could I ask the Taoiseach what arrangements, if any, are in place to protect the reciprocal arrangements for the receipt of State benefits between Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland? For example, 135,000 people in Ireland are currently in receipt of British State pensions and approximately 70,000 are in receipt of private pensions from the UK. There are also reciprocal arrangements for State assistance such as child benefit. Many of those people are very concerned, and they need reassurance. Could the Taoiseach offer them that?
