The Social Security (Ireland) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007

ARTICLE 31 N.I. Arrangements for Administration and Co-operation

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 1 art. 31, in operation at 1.10.2007, see art. 1

(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.