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STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS


2007 No. 2122

SOCIAL SECURITY

The Social Security (Ireland) Order 2007

  Made 25th July 2007 
  Coming into force 1st October 2007 

At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 25th day of July 2007

Present,

The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council

This Order is made under the powers in section 179(1)(a) and (2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992[1], which provide that, for the purpose of giving effect to agreements made with the governments of countries outside the United Kingdom providing for reciprocity in specified matters, Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for modifying and adapting specified legislation in its application to cases affected by such agreements.

     At Dublin, on 14th December 2004, a Convention on Social Security between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland[2] was signed on behalf of those Governments. This Convention, which is referred to in this Order as "the Convention", provides for earlier Agreements between the Parties concerning reciprocity in the field of social security and their extension and modification to be consolidated into a new convention, with further extensions and modifications and taking account of changes in legislation.

     The provisions of the Convention were modified by an Exchange of Notes between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland on 3rd July 2007 which specify that the amendments to the Convention shall enter into force at the same time as the Convention.

     Article 37 of the Convention provides that the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the third month following the month in which the instruments of ratification are exchanged.

     Instruments of ratification were exchanged on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland on 3rd July 2007. The Convention and the amendments to the Convention therefore enter into force on 1st October 2007.

     In order to give effect to the Convention and the amendments to the Convention, therefore, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by section 179(1)(a) and (2) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and of all other powers enabling Her to do so, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows:

Citation and commencement
     1. This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Ireland) Order 2007 and comes into force on 1st October 2007.

Modification of Acts
    
2. The Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992[3] and the Jobseekers Act 1995[4] are modified to such extent as may be required to give effect to the provisions contained in the Convention set out in Schedule 1, as amended by the Exchange of Notes set out in Schedule 2, so far as those provisions relate to England, Wales and Scotland.

Revocation and variation of Orders
     3. —(1) The National Insurance and Industrial Injuries (Republic of Ireland) Order 1960[5], the National Insurance (Republic of Ireland) Order 1966[6], the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries (Republic of Ireland) Order 1968[7] and the National Insurance (Republic of Ireland) Order 1971[8] are revoked.

    (2) The references to any of these Orders shall be omitted in—


Judith Simpson
Clerk of the Privy Council


SCHEDULE 1
Article 2


CONVENTION ON SOCIAL SECURITY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND


The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland;

Having established reciprocity in the field of social security by means of the Agreements which were signed on their behalf at London on 29 March 1960 (which Agreement did not include Northern Ireland), at Dublin on 28 February 1966, at Dublin on 3 October 1968 and at London on 14 September 1971 and also including the arrangements made on 22 July 1964 between the Ministry of Labour and National Insurance in relation to Northern Ireland and the Minister for Social Welfare in relation to Ireland;

Wishing to consolidate the earlier Agreements and their extension and modification into a new convention;

Wishing to extend and modify the scope of that reciprocity and to take account of changes in their legislation;

Have agreed as follows:



PART 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS



ARTICLE 1

Definitions

    (1) For the purpose of this Convention the following definitions apply, except where the context otherwise requires:

    (2) Other words and expressions which are used in this Convention have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the legislation concerned.

    (3) Any reference in this Convention to an "Article" means an Article of this Convention, and any reference to a "paragraph" is a reference to a paragraph of the Article in which the reference is made, unless it is stated to the contrary.



ARTICLE 2

Persons covered

Subject to Article 36, this Convention shall apply:



ARTICLE 3

Scope of legislation

    (1) This Convention shall apply,

    (2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), this Convention shall apply also to any legislation which supersedes, replaces, amends, supplements or consolidates the legislation specified in paragraph (1).

    (3) This Convention shall apply, unless the Parties agree otherwise, only to benefits under the legislation specified in paragraph (1) at the date of entry into force of this Convention and for which specific provision is made in this Convention.

    (4) This Convention shall not affect rights and obligations arising under legislation on social security enacted in accordance with the EC Treaty or the EEA Agreement or apply to any convention on social security which either Party has concluded with a third party or to any laws or regulations which amend the legislation specified in paragraph (1) for the purpose of giving effect to such a convention, but shall not prevent either Party taking into account under its legislation the provisions of any other convention which that Party has concluded with a third party.



ARTICLE 4

Equal treatment

A person, together with his dependants and survivors, who is, or has been, subject to the legislation of one Party shall, while he is in the territory of the other Party, have the same rights and obligations under the legislation of the other Party as a national of that Party, subject to the special provisions of this Convention.



ARTICLE 5

Refugees and stateless persons

This Convention shall apply to refugees or stateless persons who are residing in the territory of either Party. It shall apply under the same conditions to members of their families, and to their survivors, with respect to the rights they derive from those refugees or stateless persons.



ARTICLE 6

Provisions for the export of benefit

    (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and Articles 15, 17 to 27 and 33, a person who would be entitled to receive a retirement pension, survivor's benefit, invalidity benefit or any pension or benefit payable in respect of an industrial accident or industrial disease under the legislation of one Party if he were in the territory of that Party shall be entitled to receive that pension or benefit while he is in the territory of the other Party, as if he were in the territory of the former Party.

    (2) Subject to Article 14(3) and (5), a person who continues to be entitled to receive sickness benefit under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man while he is in Ireland may, after having received, or been deemed to have received, 364 days sickness benefit, become entitled to receive invalidity benefit under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man while he is in Ireland, provided that he continues to satisfy the insurance authority of the former Party that he remains incapable of work.

    (3) Subject to Article 14(3) to (5), a person who continues to be entitled to receive sickness benefit under the legislation of Jersey while he is in Ireland may, after having received, or been deemed to have received, 364 days sickness benefit, become entitled to receive invalidity benefit under the legislation of Jersey while he is in Ireland, provided that he continues to satisfy the insurance authority of Jersey that he remains incapable of work.

    (4) Subject to Article 14(3) to (5), a person who continues to be entitled to receive sickness benefit or industrial injury benefit under the legislation of Guernsey while he is in Ireland may, after having received, or been deemed to have received, 156 days sickness benefit or industrial injury benefit, become entitled to receive invalidity benefit under the legislation of Guernsey while he is in Ireland, provided that he continues to satisfy the insurance authority of Guernsey that he remains incapable of work.

    (5) Subject to Article 22, where, under the legislation of one Party, an increase of any of the benefits for which specific provision is made in this Convention would be payable for a dependant if he were in the territory of that Party, it shall be payable while he is in the territory of the other Party.



PART II

PROVISIONS WHICH DETERMINE THE LEGISLATION APPLICABLE CONCERNING CONTRIBUTION LIABILITY



ARTICLE 7

General provisions

    (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (9) and Articles 8 to 12, where a person is employed, liability for contributions for him shall be determined under the legislation of the Party in whose territory he is so employed. Where a person is subject only to the legislation of the United Kingdom in accordance with this paragraph, that legislation shall apply to him as if he were ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

    (2) Where a person is employed in the territory of both Parties for the same period, liability for contributions for him shall be determined only under the legislation of the Party in whose territory he is ordinarily resident.

    (3) Where a person is ordinarily resident in the territory of one Party and is self-employed in the territory of the other Party, or in the territory of both Parties, liability for contributions for him shall be determined only under the legislation of the Party in whose territory he ordinarily resides and that legislation shall apply to him as if he were self-employed in the territory of that Party.

    (4) Where a person is employed in the territory of one Party and self-employed in the territory of the other Party for the same period, liability for contributions for him shall be determined only under the legislation of the former Party.

    (5) No provision of this Article shall affect a person's liability to pay a Class 4 contribution under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, or to pay contributions arising from employment which is insurable (occupational injuries) employment only, under the legislation of Ireland.

    (6) Where a person is not gainfully employed, any liability for contributions shall be determined under the legislation of Guernsey if he is ordinarily resident in Guernsey, or under the legislation of Jersey if he is ordinarily resident in Jersey.

    (7) Where, but for this paragraph, a person would be entitled to pay contributions voluntarily under the legislation of both Parties for the same period, he shall be entitled to pay contributions only under the legislation of one Party according to his choice.

    (8) Where under Articles 8, 9(a) or (b), or 10(2), a person is employed in the territory of one Party while remaining liable for contributions under the legislation of the other Party, the legislation of the former Party shall not apply to him and he shall not be liable, nor entitled, to pay contributions under the legislation of the former Party.

    (9) A person who is entitled to receive sickness benefit, maternity allowance, invalidity benefit or injury benefit for any period under the legislation of Ireland while he is in Jersey or Guernsey, shall be excepted from liability to pay a contribution in respect of that period, other than as an employed or self-employed person, under the legislation of Jersey or Guernsey.



ARTICLE 8

Detached workers

Subject to Articles 9 and 10, where a person insured under the legislation of one Party, and employed by an employer with a place of business in the territory of that Party, is sent by that employer, either from the territory of that Party, or from a third country not party to this Convention, to work in the territory of the other Party, the legislation of the former Party concerning liability for contributions shall continue to apply to him as if he were employed in the territory of that Party, provided that the employment in the territory of the other Party is not expected to last for more than three years, and the legislation of the latter Party shall not apply to him.



ARTICLE 9

Travelling personnelSubject to Article 10, the following provisions shall apply to any person employed as a member of the travelling personnel of an undertaking engaged in the transport of passengers or goods whether for another undertaking or on its own account:



ARTICLE 10

Mariners and others employed on board a ship or vessel    (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), where a person is employed on board any ship or vessel of one Party, the legislation of that Party concerning liability for contributions shall apply to him as if any conditions relating to residence were satisfied in his case, provided that he is ordinarily resident in the territory of either Party.

    (2) Where a person who is insured under the legislation of one Party and employed either in the territory of that Party or on board any ship or vessel of that Party, is sent by his employer in the territory of that Party to work on board a ship or vessel of the other Party, the legislation of the former Party concerning liability for contributions shall continue to apply to him provided that his employment on board the ship or vessel of the latter Party is not expected to last for a period of more than one year. Where his employment on board the ship or vessel of the latter Party continues after such period of one year, the legislation of the former Party shall continue to apply to him for any further period of not more than one year, provided that the competent authority of the latter Party agrees thereto before the end of the first period of one year.

    (3) Where a person who is not normally employed at sea is employed other than as a member of the crew, on board a ship or vessel of one Party, in the territorial waters of, or at a port of, the other Party, the legislation concerning liability for contributions of the Party in whose territory he is ordinarily resident shall apply to him.

    (4) Where a person who is ordinarily resident in the territory of one Party and employed on board any ship or vessel of the other Party is paid remuneration in respect of that employment by a person who is ordinarily resident in, or by an undertaking having a place of business in, the territory of the former Party, the legislation of the former Party concerning liability for contributions shall apply to him as if the ship or vessel were a ship or vessel of the former Party, and the person or undertaking by whom the remuneration is paid shall be treated as the employer for the purpose of such legislation.



ARTICLE 11

Diplomats, Government Servants and Consular Employees    (1) This Convention shall not apply to persons who are exempted from the social security law of the Party in whose territory they are present or resident by virtue of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic or Consular Relations.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (1), where any person who is in the Government Service of one Party or in the service of any public corporation of that Party is employed in the territory of the other Party, the legislation of the former Party concerning liability for contributions shall apply to him as if he were employed in its territory.

    (3) Subject to paragraphs (1) and (2), where a person is employed in a diplomatic mission or consular post of one Party in the territory of the other Party, or in the private service of an official of such a mission or post, the legislation of the latter Party concerning liability for contributions shall apply to him as if he were employed in its territory, unless within three months of the entry into force of this Convention, or within three months of the beginning of the employment in the territory of the latter Party, whichever is later, he chooses to be insured under the legislation of the former Party, provided that he was so insured within the period of one month immediately before the commencement of the employment at that mission or post. Where, under this paragraph, a person has the right to choose to be insured under the legislation of the former Party but does not choose to do so, he shall not be liable, nor entitled, to pay contributions under the legislation of the former Party.



ARTICLE 12

Modification ProvisionsExceptionally, the competent authorities of the Parties may agree to modify the application of Articles 7 to 11 in respect of particular persons or categories of persons.



PART III

SPECIAL PROVISIONS



ARTICLE 13

Conversion formulae for contributions

    (1) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man in accordance with Articles 17 to 24, contribution periods or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Ireland before 6 April 1975 shall be treated as if they had been contribution periods or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, as the case may be.

    (2) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man in accordance with Articles 17 to 24, contribution periods completed as a self-employed person or as a non-employed person or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Ireland after 5 April 1975 shall be treated as if they had been contribution periods completed as a self-employed person or as a non-employed person or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, as the case may be.

    (3) Subject to paragraph (4), for the purpose of calculating an earnings factor for assessing entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man in accordance with Articles 14 and 16 to 24, a person shall be treated for each week beginning in a relevant income tax year commencing after 5 April 1975, the whole or any part of which week is a contribution period completed as an employed person under the legislation of Ireland, as having paid a contribution as an employed earner, or having earnings on which primary Class 1 contributions have been paid, on earnings equivalent to two-thirds of that year's upper earnings limit.

    (4) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to additional pension under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, no account shall be taken of any contribution period completed under the legislation of Ireland.

    (5) For the purposes of the calculation in Article 18(3), where:

    (6) For the purpose of calculating the appropriate contribution factor to establish entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Jersey in accordance with Articles 14, 15, 17 to 27 and 29, a person shall be treated:

    (7) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Guernsey, in accordance with Articles 14 to 29, contribution periods or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Ireland shall be treated as if they had been contribution periods or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Guernsey.

    (8) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Ireland in accordance with Articles 14 to 29, each contribution period or equivalent period completed under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man before 6 April 1975, shall be treated as if it had been a contribution period or an equivalent period completed under the legislation of Ireland.

    (9) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Ireland in accordance with Articles 14 to 29, any earnings factor achieved in any income tax year commencing on or after 6 April 1975 under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man shall be converted by the competent authority of the United Kingdom to contribution weeks under the legislation of Ireland by dividing the earnings factor by that income tax year's lower earnings limit. The result shall be expressed as a whole number, any remaining fraction being ignored. The number of contribution weeks so calculated, subject to a maximum of the number of weeks during which the person was subject to the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, as the case may be, in that year, shall be treated as if they were contribution weeks completed under the legislation of Ireland.

    (10) For the purpose of calculating entitlement to any benefit under the legislation of Ireland in accordance with Articles 14 to 29, any insurance periods completed under the legislation of Jersey shall be converted to contribution weeks completed under the legislation of Ireland as follows:

    (11) For the purpose of calculating entitlement under the legislation of Ireland to any benefit in accordance with Articles 14 to 29 contribution periods or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Guernsey shall be treated as if they had been contribution periods or equivalent periods completed under the legislation of Ireland.



PART IV

BENEFIT PROVISIONS



SECTION 1

PROVISIONS FOR SICKNESS, MATERNITY, INVALIDITY AND UNEMPLOYMENT



ARTICLE 14

Sickness benefit and Maternity allowance

    (1) Where a person has, since his last arrival in the territory of one Party, completed a contribution period under the legislation of that Party, then for the purpose of any claim to sickness benefit or maternity allowance made under the legislation of that Party, any insurance period completed under the legislation of the other Party shall be treated in accordance with Article 13 as if it were an insurance period completed under the legislation of the former Party.

    (2) Where a person is employed in the territory of one Party and the legislation of the other Party applies to him in accordance with any of the provisions of Articles 7 to 12, he shall be treated under that legislation for the purpose of any claim to sickness benefit or maternity allowance as if he were in the territory of the latter Party.

    (3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) and Article 33, where a person would be entitled to receive sickness benefit or maternity allowance under the legislation of one Party if he were in the territory of that Party, he shall be entitled to receive that sickness benefit or maternity allowance while he is in the territory of the other Party if:

    (4) Where a seasonal worker, who is entitled to sickness benefit under the legislation of Jersey or Guernsey, or Ireland, returns to the territory in which he is ordinarily resident, he shall be entitled to continue to receive such benefit for a period of not more than thirteen weeks from the date of his departure from Jersey or Guernsey or Ireland, as the case may be.

    (5) Where a person who is resident in the territory of one Party claims but is not entitled to receive sickness benefit or maternity allowance under the legislation of that Party but would be entitled to receive sickness benefit or maternity allowance under the legislation of the other Party if he were in the territory of that Party, he shall be entitled to receive that sickness benefit or maternity allowance while he is in the territory of the former Party provided that, since his last arrival in the territory of that Party, he has not completed a contribution period under its legislation.

    (6) Where a person would be entitled to receive sickness benefit or maternity allowance under the legislation of Ireland if he were in the territory of that Party, he shall be entitled to receive that sickness benefit or maternity allowance while he is in the territory of the United Kingdom.

    (7) Where, but for this paragraph, a person would be entitled to receive, for the same period, whether by virtue of this Convention, or otherwise:

that benefit, allowance or payment shall be granted only under the legislation under which the person was last insured before entitlement arose.

    (8) For the purpose of calculating the weekly rate of maternity allowance under the legislation of Ireland, where the provisions of Section 39 (1)(a) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, are being applied, an amount equal to the average weekly wage of female employed persons in the income tax year prescribed for the purpose of the aforesaid Section 39, shall be credited to the employed person in respect of each week completed as an employed person under the legislation of the United Kingdom in respect of that income tax year.



ARTICLE 15

Invalidity benefit

    (1) Where a person has been insured under the legislation of both Parties, the competent authority in the territory of the Party whose legislation was applicable when incapacity for work followed by invalidity began shall determine, in accordance with its legislation, whether the person concerned satisfied the conditions for entitlement to invalidity benefit taking account, where appropriate, of any insurance period which that person has completed under the legislation of the other Party as if it were an insurance period completed under its legislation.

    (2) Where a person would be entitled to receive for the same incapacity and for the same period invalidity benefit under the legislation of both Parties, or invalidity benefit under the legislation of one Party and sickness benefit under the legislation of the other Party, including statutory sick pay under the legislation of Great Britain or Northern Ireland, or industrial injury benefit under the legislation of Guernsey, whether by virtue of this Convention or otherwise, he shall be entitled to receive only the invalidity benefit, sickness benefit, statutory sick pay or industrial injury benefit, as the case may be, under the legislation of the Party in whose territory the incapacity began.



ARTICLE 16

Unemployment benefit

    (1) In this Article "Party" means Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Guernsey or Ireland, as the case may be.

    (2) Subject to paragraphs (4) to (6) and paragraph (8) where a person has, since his last arrival in the territory of one Party, completed a contribution period under the legislation of that Party, then for the purpose of any claim to unemployment benefit made under the legislation of that Party, any insurance period, or period of employment, completed under the legislation of the other Party shall be treated in accordance with Article 13 as if it were an insurance period, or period of employment, completed under the legislation of the former Party in so far as those periods do not coincide.

    (3) Periods of employment in one Party shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a person who has previously exhausted his right to unemployment benefit under the legislation of Guernsey or Ireland requalifies for it.

    (4) Where a person is entitled to unemployment benefit under the legislation of Great Britain or Northern Ireland in accordance with paragraph (2), any unemployment benefit paid to that person for any period under the legislation of Ireland during the last twelve weeks before the day for which his claim is made shall be treated, for the purpose of determining the duration of entitlement to the payment, as if it were unemployment benefit paid for the same period under the legislation of Great Britain or Northern Ireland, as the case may be.

    (5) Where a person is entitled to unemployment benefit under the legislation of Guernsey in accordance with paragraph (2), any unemployment benefit paid to that person for any period under the legislation of Ireland during the last twelve months before the day for which his claim is made shall be treated, for the purpose of determining the duration of entitlement to the payment, as if it were unemployment benefit paid for the same period under the legislation of Guernsey.

    (6) This Article shall not apply to a person who claims unemployment benefit under the legislation of Guernsey and who has not paid twenty-six contributions as an employed person under the legislation of Guernsey.

    (7) For the purpose of paragraph (2), insurance periods completed under the legislation of Jersey or the Isle of Man shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining entitlement to unemployment benefit under the legislation of Ireland provided the person has thirty-nine qualifying contributions as an employed contributor under the legislation of Ireland.

    (8) For the purpose of determining whether a person is entitled to be credited with a Class 1 contribution under the legislation of Guernsey in respect of any week of unemployment, any insurance period, or any period of employment, completed by him under the legislation of Ireland, shall be treated as an insurance period or period of employment, as the case may be, under the legislation of Guernsey.



SECTION 2

RETIREMENT PENSION AND SURVIVOR'S BENEFIT



ARTICLE 17

General provisions

    (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4) and Article 22, where a person is entitled to a basic retirement pension under the legislation of any part of either Party otherwise than by virtue of this Convention, that pension shall be payable and Article 18 shall not apply under that legislation.

    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person entitled to a Category B retirement pension under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man shall also be entitled to have any Category A retirement pension entitlement determined in accordance with Article 18.

    (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a married woman entitled to a retirement pension solely on her husband's contributions under the legislation of Jersey or Guernsey shall also be entitled to have any pension entitlement based entirely on her own insurance determined in accordance with Article 18. Such a married woman shall be entitled to receive only the benefit of her choice.

    (4) Entitlement to a retirement pension in the circumstances referred to in paragraph (1) shall not preclude the competent authority of any part of either Party from taking into account in accordance with Article 18(4) to (6) and (8) insurance periods completed under the legislation of any other part of either Party.



ARTICLE 18

Pro-rata Pensions

    (1) Subject to Articles 19 to 23, this Article shall apply to determine a person's entitlement to retirement pension, including any increase for dependants, under the legislation of any part of either Party.

    (2) For the purposes of determining entitlement to retirement pension, no account shall be taken of any increase for dependent children, but any such increase shall be payable in accordance with Article 22.

    (3) In accordance with Article 13, the competent authority of any part of either Party shall determine:

    (4) For the purpose of the calculation in paragraph (3), where all the insurance periods completed by any person under the legislation of:

those periods shall be treated in accordance with paragraph (5) or (6).

    (5) Insurance periods under paragraphs (4) and (8) shall be treated as follows:

    (6) Where no pension is, or would be, payable under paragraph (5), insurance periods under paragraph (4) shall be treated as if they had been completed under the legislation of Ireland.

    (7) Any increase of benefit payable under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man because of deferred retirement or deferred entitlement, shall be based on the amount of the pro-rata pension calculated in accordance with this Article.

    (8) Where all the insurance periods completed by a person under the legislation of Ireland amount to less than one year those periods shall be treated as if they had been completed under the legislation of the United Kingdom in accordance with paragraph (5).



ARTICLE 19

Insurance periods to be taken into account

    (1) For the purpose of applying Article 18 the competent authority of either Party shall take account only of insurance periods (completed under the legislation of either Party) which would be taken into account for the determination of pensions under its legislation if they were completed under that legislation, and shall, where appropriate, take into account in accordance with that legislation insurance periods completed by a spouse, or former spouse, as the case may be.

    (2) Where, in relation to any claim to receive old age benefit or survivor's benefit, it is found that the insured person was paid sickness benefit, disability benefit or invalidity pension as the case may be, by virtue of reciprocal provisions in the earlier agreements, for any continuous period of not less than 26 weeks the contributions credited to him in respect of that period shall—



ARTICLE 20

Overlapping periods

For the purpose of applying Article 18:



ARTICLE 21

Benefits to be excluded

    (1) For the purpose of applying Article 18 no account shall be taken of the following benefits payable under the legislation of Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man:

but any such benefit shall be added to the amount of any benefit payable under that legislation in accordance with Article 18(3).

    (2) For the purpose of applying Article 18 no account shall be taken of the following payments under the legislation of Ireland:

but such payments shall, where appropriate, be added to the amount of benefit payable under that legislation in accordance with Article 18(3).



ARTICLE 22

Increases for dependent children

    (1) This Article shall apply to any increase of a retirement pension or a survivor's benefit payable under the legislation of either Party in respect of a dependent child or dependent children.

    (2) Such increase shall be payable in accordance with the following provisions:

    (3) Where an increase cannot be paid under paragraph (2)(b) because the pensioner or widow is not ordinarily resident in the territory of either Party, the increase shall be payable under the legislation of the Party in whose territory the pensioner or widow was last ordinarily resident.



ARTICLE 23

Non-simultaneous entitlement

Where a person does not simultaneously satisfy the conditions for entitlement to a retirement pension under the legislation of both Parties, his entitlement from each Party shall be established as and when he satisfies the conditions applicable under the legislation of that Party, taking account, where appropriate, of Article 18.



ARTICLE 24

Survivor's benefit

    (1) Articles 17 to 23 shall also apply, with such modifications as the differing nature of the benefits shall require, to survivor's benefit.

    (2) Where survivor's benefit would be payable under the legislation of one Party if a child were in the territory of that Party, it shall be payable while the child is in the territory of the other Party.

    (3) A person who is entitled to receive survivor's benefit under the legislation of Jersey shall be awarded credits only for periods during which that person is ordinarily resident in Jersey.

    (4) A person who is entitled to receive survivor's benefit under the legislation of Guernsey while he is in Ireland, shall not be credited with a Class 3 contribution in respect of every week during which that benefit is payable to him, but shall be credited, for the purposes of entitlement to retirement pension or death grant, in respect of each year during the whole or part of which such benefit is payable, with a number of Class 3 contributions equal to his spouse's yearly average of reckonable contributions at the date of her death. If the rate of retirement pension payable to such a person would be less than the rate of survivor's benefit formerly payable it shall be increased to that of the survivor's benefit.



SECTION 3

BENEFITS FOR INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND INDUSTRIAL DISEASES



ARTICLE 25

General provisions

    (1) Where a person is employed in the territory of one Party and the legislation of the other Party applies to him in accordance with any of the provisions of Articles 8 to 12, he shall be treated under the legislation of the latter Party for the purpose of any claim for benefit in respect of an industrial accident or an industrial disease contracted during that employment, as if the accident had occurred or the disease had been contracted in the territory of the latter Party. Where benefit would be payable in respect of that claim if the person were in the territory of the latter Party, it shall be payable while he is in the territory of the former Party.

    (2) Where a person leaves the territory of one Party to go in the course of his employment to the territory of the other Party, but before he arrives in the latter territory sustains an accident, then, for the purpose of any claim to benefit in respect of that accident:

    (3) Where a seasonal worker who is entitled to industrial injury benefit under the legislation of Guernsey goes to Ireland, he shall be entitled to continue to receive such benefit for a period of not more than thirteen weeks from the date of departure from Guernsey.

    (4) Where because of a death resulting from an industrial accident or an industrial disease, a benefit would be payable under the legislation of one Party in respect of a child if that child were in the territory of that Party, that benefit shall be payable while the child is in the territory of the other Party.



ARTICLE 26

Dual Attribution and Aggravation of an Industrial Disease

    (1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a person contracts an industrial disease, after having been employed in the territories of both Parties in an occupation to which, under the legislation of both Parties, the disease may be attributed and he would be entitled to receive benefit in respect of that disease under the legislation of both Parties, whether by virtue of this Convention or otherwise, the benefit shall be payable only under the legislation of the Party in whose territory he was last employed in that occupation before the disease was diagnosed.

    (2) Where a person has suffered an aggravation of an industrial disease for which benefit has been paid in accordance with paragraph (1), the following provisions shall apply:



ARTICLE 27

Dual entitlement

A person shall not be entitled, whether by virtue of this Convention or otherwise, to receive sickness benefit, including industrial injury benefit under the legislation of Guernsey, invalidity benefit or maternity allowance under the legislation of one Party for any period during which he is entitled to benefit, other than a pension, under the legislation of the other Party in respect of incapacity for work which results from an industrial accident or an industrial disease.



SECTION 4

FAMILY BENEFITS



ARTICLE 28

Family allowance

For the purposes of any claim to family allowance under the legislation of Guernsey:



SECTION 5

DEATH BENEFIT



ARTICLE 29

Death Grant under the legislation of Jersey, Guernsey or Ireland

    (1) In this Article "Party" means Jersey, Guernsey or Ireland, as the case may be.

    (2) For the purpose of any claim to death grant under the legislation of either Party any insurance period completed by the relevant person under the legislation of one Party shall be treated in accordance with Article 13 as if it were an insurance period completed under the legislation of the other Party.

    (3) For the purpose of any claim to death grant under the legislation of Ireland the relevant person may, in addition to the deceased person, also include the spouse of the deceased person or, in the case where a grant is claimed in respect of a deceased child, the father or mother of the child or such persons defined in Section 114(2) (a)(ii) and (iii) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 1993.

    (4) Where a person dies in the territory of either Party his death shall be treated, for the purpose of any claim to death grant under the legislation of one Party, as if it had occurred in the territory of that Party.

    (5) Where there would be entitlement to death grant under the legislation of both Parties, whether by virtue of this Convention or otherwise:

    (6) For the purposes of this Article no account shall be taken of any insurance period completed under the legislation of the other Party:



PART V

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS



ARTICLE 30

Recovery of advance payments and overpayments of benefit

    (1) Where a competent authority of one Party has made a payment of any benefit to a person for any period, or event, in advance of the period, or event, to which it relates or has paid him any benefit for a period, or event, whether by virtue of this Convention or otherwise, and the competent authority of the other Party afterwards decides that the person is entitled to benefit for that period, or event, under its legislation, the competent authority of the latter Party, at the request of the competent authority of the former Party, shall deduct from the benefit due for that period, or event, under its legislation any overpayment which, by virtue of this Convention, results from the advance payment of benefit, or from the benefit paid, by the competent authority of the former Party and shall, where appropriate, transmit this sum to the competent authority of the former Party.

    (2) Where a person has received social assistance under the legislation of one Party for a period for which that person subsequently becomes entitled to any benefit under the legislation of the other Party, the competent authority of the latter Party, at the request of and on behalf of the competent authority of the former Party, shall withhold the benefit due for that period and shall transmit the amount withheld to the competent authority of the former Party. The competent authority of the former Party shall deduct from the benefit due under the legislation of the other Party the amount by which the social assistance paid exceeded what would have been paid had the benefit under the legislation of the latter Party been paid before the amount of social assistance was determined. Any benefit not so deducted shall be transmitted to the person.



ARTICLE 31

Arrangements for Administration and Co-operation

    (1) The competent authorities of the two Parties shall establish the administrative measures necessary for the application of this Convention.

    (2) The competent authorities of the two Parties shall communicate to each other, as soon as possible, all information about the measures taken by them for the application of this Convention or about changes in their national legislation in so far as these changes affect the application of this Convention.

    (3) The competent authorities of the two Parties shall establish liaison offices for the purpose of facilitating the implementation of this Convention.

    (4) The competent authorities of the two Parties shall assist one another on any matter relating to the application of this Convention as if the matter were one affecting the application of their own legislation. This assistance shall be free of charge.

    (5) Where any benefit is payable under the legislation of one Party to a person in the territory of the other Party, arrangements for the payment may, in exceptional circumstances, be made by the competent authority of the latter Party, at the request of the competent authority of the former Party, and the former Party shall reimburse the latter Party.

    (6) Where a person who is in the territory of one Party has claimed, or is receiving, benefit under the legislation of the other Party and a medical examination is necessary, the competent authority of the former Party, at the request of the competent authority of the latter Party, shall arrange for this examination. The cost of such examination shall be met by the competent authority of the former Party.

    (7) A medical board appointed by the competent authority of Ireland at the request of the competent authority of Guernsey, shall be treated as a medical board for determination of the disablement questions under the legislation of Guernsey.

    (8) Where the legislation of one Party provides that any certificate or other document which is submitted under the legislation of that Party shall be exempt, wholly or partly, from any taxes, legal dues, consular fees or administrative charges, that exemption shall apply to any certificate or other document which is submitted under the legislation of the other Party or in accordance with this Convention.

    (9) All statements, documents and certificates of any kind required to be produced for the purposes of this Convention shall be exempt from authentication by diplomatic or consular authorities.

    (10) No certificate, document or statement of any kind written in an official language of either Party shall be rejected on the ground that it is written in a foreign language.

    (11) Unless disclosure is required under the legislation of a Party, any information about an individual which is sent in accordance with, and for the purposes of, this Convention to that Party by the other Party is confidential and shall be used only for the purpose of implementing this Convention and the legislation to which this Convention applies.



ARTICLE 32

Submission of claim or appeal

    (1) Any claim or appeal which should, for the purposes of the legislation of one Party, have been submitted within a prescribed period to the competent authority of that Party, shall be treated as if it had been submitted to that competent authority if it is submitted within the same period to the competent authority of the other Party.

    (2) Any claim to benefit submitted under the legislation of one Party shall also be deemed to be a claim to the corresponding benefit under the legislation of the other Party in so far as this corresponding benefit is payable in accordance with this Convention.



ARTICLE 33

Currency and method of payment

    (1) Payment of any benefit in accordance with this Convention may be made in the currency of the Party whose competent authority makes the payment and any such payment shall constitute a full discharge of the obligation in respect of which payment has been made.

    (2) Where the competent authority of one Party has made a payment of benefit on behalf of the competent authority of the other Party in accordance with paragraph (5) of Article 31, any reimbursement of the amounts paid by the competent authority of the former Party shall be in the currency of the latter Party.

    (3) Where a person in the territory of one Party is receiving benefit under the legislation of the other Party, it shall be payable by whatever method the competent authority of the latter Party deems appropriate.



ARTICLE 34

Resolution of disputes

    (1) The competent authorities of the Parties to this Convention shall make all reasonable efforts to resolve through agreement between them any dispute about its interpretation or application.

    (2) If any dispute cannot be resolved as in paragraph (1) it shall be submitted, at the request of the competent authority of either Party, to an arbitration tribunal which shall be constituted in the following manner:

    (3) The decision of the arbitration tribunal, which shall be binding on both Parties, shall be by majority vote. The arbitration tribunal shall determine its own rules of procedure, and its costs shall be borne equally by the two Parties.



PART VI

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS



ARTICLE 35

Prior acquisition of rights—old Agreements replaced by new Convention— persons covered by this Convention

    (1) Upon the entry into force of this Convention the earlier agreements shall terminate and shall be replaced by this Convention.

    (2) Any right to benefit acquired by a person in accordance with the earlier agreements shall be maintained. For the purposes of this paragraph "any right to benefit acquired" includes any right which a person would have had but for his failure to claim timeously where a late claim is allowed.

    (3) Any rights in course of acquisition under the earlier agreements at the date of entry into force of this Convention shall be settled in accordance with the agreement, or Convention, in force at the date of entitlement.

    (4) Where, from the date of entry into force of this Convention, any claim to benefit has not been determined and entitlement arises before that date, the claim shall be determined under the earlier agreements and shall be determined afresh under this Convention from its date of entry into force. The rate of benefit determined under this Convention shall be awarded from the date of its entry into force if this is more favourable than the rate determined under the earlier agreements.

    (5) Benefit, other than lump sum payments, shall be payable in accordance with this Convention in respect of events which happened before the date of its entry into force, except that an accident which occurred or a disease which developed before that date shall not, solely by virtue of this Convention, be treated as an industrial accident or an industrial disease if it would not have been so treated under any legislation or agreement having effect at the time of its occurrence or development. For the purpose of determining claims in accordance with this Convention, account shall be taken, where appropriate, of insurance periods and periods of residence, employment or presence, completed before the date of its entry into force.

    (6) Paragraph (5) shall not confer any right to receive payment of benefit for any period before the date of entry into force of this Convention.

    (7) For the purpose of paragraph (2) and for applying the first sentence of paragraph (5):

    (8) No provision of this Convention shall diminish any rights or benefits which a person has properly acquired under the legislation of any part of either Party before the date of entry into force of this Convention.



ARTICLE 36

Prior Acquisition of rights—old Agreements replaced by new Convention— persons excluded from this convention

As regards persons who, by virtue of Article 2, are not covered by this Convention, the following provisions shall apply:



ARTICLE 37

Ratification

This Convention shall be ratified and the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged in London as soon as possible. The Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the third month following the month in which the instruments of ratification are exchanged.



ARTICLE 38

Life of the Convention

This Convention shall remain in force for an indefinite period. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or the Government of Ireland may denounce it at any time by giving 6 months' notice in writing to the other Party.



ARTICLE 39

Rights on termination of this Convention not replaced by another

In the event of the termination of this Convention and unless a new Convention containing provisions regulating the matter is made, any right to benefit acquired by a person in accordance with this Convention shall be maintained and negotiations shall take place for the settlement of any other rights then in course of acquisition by virtue of those provisions.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.

Done in duplicate at Dublin this fourteenth day of December 2004.

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland


S G Eldon


For the Government of Ireland


John Hynes


SCHEDULE 2
Article 2


EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND




[No. 1]

3 July 2007

Your Excellency

I have the honour to refer to the Convention on Social Security between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland, which was signed at Dublin on 14 December, 2004 and to propose that the following amendments should be made in the text of the Convention:

    (A) In Article 1 (1) the definitions of "Category A retirement pension" and "Category B retirement pension" shall be replaced as follows:

    (B) In Article 1(1) the definition of "invalidity benefit" shall be replaced as follows:

    (C) In Article 1(1) the definition of "sickness benefit" shall be replaced as follows:

    (D) Article 6, paragraph (3) shall be replaced as follows:

    (E) In Article 15 a new paragraph shall be inserted as follows:

    (F) In Article 19, paragraph (1) after the words "completed by a spouse" there shall be added the words "or civil partner" and after the words "or former spouse" there shall be added the words "or former civil partner".

If the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the Government of Ireland, I have the honour to suggest that this Note, together with Your Excellency's reply to that effect, shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force at the same time as the Convention.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration.

Win Harris

Director, Joint International Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills



[No. 2]

3 July 2007.

Win Harris

Director, Joint International Unit of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education and Skills

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note dated 3 July 2007 which reads as follows:

I have the honour to confirm that the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of Ireland and that they agree that your Note together with this reply shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments in this matter, which shall enter into force at the same time as the Convention.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew assurances of my highest consideration.

Dáithí O'Ceallaigh

Ambassador of Ireland, London



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)


This Order makes provision for the modification of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Jobseekers Act 1995 so as to give effect to the Convention on Social Security signed between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland, as amended by the Exchange of Notes.

The Convention set out in Schedule 1 relates to reciprocity in benefits for sickness, maternity, invalidity and unemployment, retirement pension and survivor's benefit and benefit for industrial accidents and industrial diseases in relation to persons to whom Council Regulation (EEC) 1408/71[
16] does not apply moving between Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Notes set out in Schedule 2 amend the Convention to take account of legislative changes in the United Kingdom relating to the benefit entitlement of spouses and civil partners.

The Order does not impose any costs on business, charities or the voluntary sector.


Notes:

[1] 1992 c.5.back

[2] See Cm 6633.back

[3] 1992 c.4.back

[4] 1995 c.18.back

[5] S.I. 1960/707.back

[6] S.I. 1966/270.back

[7] S.I. 1968/1655.back

[8] S.I. 1971/1742.back

[9] S.I. 1976/225.back

[10] S.I. 1979/290.back

[11] S.I. 1988/591.back

[12] S.I. 1995/767.back

[13] S.I. 1996/1928.back

[14] S.I. 2001/407.back

[15] S.I. 2005/2765.back

[16] OJ No. L 149, 5.7.71, p. 2.back



ISBN 978 0 11 078320 8


 © Crown copyright 2007

Prepared 1 August 2007


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