It is necessary to include statutory pre-retirement schemes within the scope of this Regulation, thus guaranteeing both equal treatment and the possibility of exporting pre-retirement benefits as well as the award of family and health-care benefits to the person concerned, in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation; however, the rule on the aggregation of periods should not be included, as only a very limited number of Member States have statutory pre-retirement schemes.

It is necessary to include statutory pre-retirement schemes within the scope of this Regulation, thus guaranteeing both equal treatment and the possibility of exporting pre-retirement benefits as well as the award of family and health-care benefits to the person concerned, in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation; however, the rule on the aggregation of periods should not be included, as only a very limited number of Member States have statutory pre-retirement schemes.

5. For the purpose of calculating the earnings for the granting of the pay-related benefit payable under Irish legislation with sickness, maternity and unemployment benefits, an amount equal to the average weekly wage in that year of male or female employed persons, as applicable, shall, notwithstanding Articles 23 (1) and 68 (1) of the Regulation, be credited to the employed person in respect of each week of employment completed as an employed person under the legislation of another Member State during the relevant income tax year.

Whereas it is necessary to regulate the award of invalidity benefits in cases where a worker previously subject to legislation based on the materialization of the risk is subject to legislation based on the length of insurance, under which he becomes disabled, and where under the former legislation the award of invalidity benefits is subject to the condition that for a specified period the worker has previously received cash sickness benefits or has previously been incapable of work;

For the purpose of calculating the earnings for the granting of the earnings-related benefit payable under Irish legislation with sickness, maternity and unemployment benefits, an amount equal to the average weekly wage in that year of male or female workers, as applicable, shall, notwithstanding Articles 23 (1) and 68 (1) of the Regulation, be credited to the worker in respect of each week of employment completed as a worker under the legislation of another Member State during the relevant income tax year".

Whereas, moreover, the current restrictions on the granting of family benefits should be abolished, and whereas in order to ensure payment of benefits for the maintenance of the members of separated families, leaving aside those benefits aimed largely at encouraging an increase in population, it would be preferable to lay down rules common to all the Member States and efforts should continue to this end; but in the face of great variations between national legislations a solution should be adopted to take this situation into account: payment of family benefits of the country of employment in respect of five countries, and payment of fam ...[+++]ily allowances of the country of residence of members of the family where the country of employment is France;