asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a woman who was deserted by her husband over twenty years ago, and has not heard from him during the entire period, is now entitled to a widow's pension and, if not, if he will take steps to enable widows' pensions to be paid to women who have been deserted by their husbands for a long period of time.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Widows' Pensions.
5.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply to a similar question by Deputy Dillon on 31st January, 1963.
Is it not a fact that if one can afford it, one may go into the High Court and ask the court to presume death; but in the case of a poor person, such as a widow entitled to a widow's pension, that procedure is not open to her for financial reasons? Would the Minister consider the introduction of some method whereby he himself, or his Department, would declare the presumption of death in the case of a person such as the person mentioned in the question?
That procedure is already there.
Deputy O'Donnell may have forgotten that the Tánaiste is, of course, apprehensive that, if you did that, all the husbands in Ireland would desert their wives in the anticipation of their getting the widow's pension.
In reply to Deputy O'Donnell, the possibility is already there.
By mere application to the Minister?
Every case is considered on its merits.
Out of every 50, one might get it.