Unemployed people seeking work in the EU could be able to draw their social welfare payments anywhere in the EU for up to six months, the Government said yesterday.
The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, said she would use Ireland's EU presidency, which begins on January 1st, to secure the agreement of other member-states for the measure.
"The person seeking work will continue to be paid their Irish social welfare benefit payment which can be delivered to a local banking institution," she said.
"This will greatly assist Irish people who wish to broaden their search for work."
Ms Coughlan said she planned to ensure that workers and their families who want to move within the EU are not penalised when claiming social welfare entitlements.
She said a crucial aim of the presidency will be the finalisation of regulations to co-ordinate social security systems for workers moving throughout the EU.
"This fundamental reform and modernisation of the co-ordination of rules of the social security system across the EU will result in ensuring our citizens have improved protection, and that the EU will be able to adapt to future requirements in this important area of social protection," she said.
"I expect this will be achieved by reinforcing the principle of equal treatment across member-states by simplifying legislation to ensure it applies to all EU citizens whether they are employed or self-employed workers, pensioners, civil servants, students or non-active persons."
EU social affairs ministers will meet in Galway on January 15th-17th.