NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD BUT GREAT NEWS FOR THE IRISH IN KOREA.

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Press/PressReleases/2008/Pages/pr311208.aspx

The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, T.D., has signed an agreement on social security with the Republic of Korea into legislation. It will come into effect tomorrow, 1^st January 2009. The main purpose of the Agreement is to protect the pension rights of migrant workers who move between Ireland and the Republic of Korea.

Speaking today Minister Hanafin said, "the provisions of the agreement are very similar to existing agreements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and USA, and will enable persons who have paid social insurance in both Ireland and Korea to receive a pension on the basis of their combined periods of social insurance if they do not have enough contributions under one legislation alone." The Irish benefits which may be paid under the agreement are: State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Transition), Invalidity Pension, Widow's and Widower's (Contributory) Pension, Guardian's Payment (Contributory) and Bereavement Grant.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1231/breaking46.html?via=mr