asked the Minister for Finance further to his recent meeting following the budget with representatives of the widows and of the Retired Civil Servants Association concerning the granting to pre-1968 widows of State servants the right to qualify for full pensions under the Civil Servants' Widows' and Orphans' Pension schemes on the basis of payment of retrospective contributions, if he will state the progress to date on this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Windows of State Servants.
18.
I had a meeting with the Association of Widows of Civil Servants on 7th April last at which it was represented that pre-1968 widows should be granted the terms of the contributory widows' and children's pension scheme for the Civil Service. I indicated that the terms of the contributory pension scheme had been agreed with the staff associations in 1968. As the admission of pre-1968 widows and other potential widows to the scheme would undoubtedly affect its structure, I pointed out that it would be necessary in the first instance for the widows to consult with the staff associations on the matter. I understand that the widows have since been in contract with the staff associations.