asked the Minister for Defence if he will introduce legislation to provide that the widows of Army pensioners who married after retirement should benefit from the same pension provisions as other widows of Army personnel.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Army Widows' Pensions.
157.
It is a principle of all superannuation codes that marriages contracted after retirement do not qualify dependants for benefit. In the circumstances, it is not proposed to introduce legislation of the nature mentioned.
Is the Minister aware that Army widows have not yet got the increase in pensions which have been granted to the widows of other State personnel and this is causing considerable hardship and dissatisfaction?
It will be attended to.
Can the Minister give them any hope of speedy action? They have been a long time waiting.
158.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will grant the same pension facilities to the widows of Defence Force NCOs and men who die while on pension as is granted to Civil Service pensioners.
I assume that the Deputy's question relates to the noncontributory ex-gratia pension granted to the widows of civil servants who died or retired prior to July, 1968. The majority of those Civil Service pensioners were not insured under the Social Welfare Acts and consequently their widows were not in receipt of any State pension prior to the granting of the ex-gratia pension.
Widows of non-commissioned officers and privates are eligible for the contributory social welfare pension and consequently it is not proposed to make further provision as suggested by the Deputy.