Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
418. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the conditions for mutual recognition of pension contributions between Ireland and Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18077/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has negotiated a number of Bilateral Social Security Agreements including with Canada (SI 317/1991) and Quebec (SI 120/1995).
The main purpose of these Agreements is to protect the pension rights of people who have worked and paid social security contributions in Ireland and the countries with which Ireland has such agreements. This is achieved by allowing reckonable social security contributions paid in Canada or/and Quebec to be aggregated with Irish full-rate social insurance contributions for the purposes of qualifying for certain contributory payments in Ireland or in Canada/Quebec, where they do not meet minimum requirements in one country alone.
Enquiries on Irish state pensions can be directed to Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo by email to: state.con@welfare.ie or by phone to: 071-9157100 / 0818-200400.
If the Deputy is referring to a particular case and provides my office with details, I will have the matter examined.
