The new Convention on Social Security between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has effect from 1 October 2007.

According to the Department of Social and Family Affairs press release, from 1 October 2007, people who have been working both in Ireland and the Channel Islands i.e. the islands of Jersey and Guernsey, – islands which are not members of the EU – will now, for the first time have the years when they worked on these islands taken into account when applying for social welfare entitlements in Ireland.

The press release went on to say that prior to this new arrangement, a person, who at one time or another, worked in Jersey or Guernsey and Ireland could not have the periods of social insurance – which they had built up during their working lives – added together in order to obtain a benefit or pension.