asked the Minister for Justice if he will authorise the payment of a Garda widows pension to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who was refused a pension as she married after her late husband had retired from the force.
Written Answers. - Garda Widow's Pension.
12.
As the Deputy has been informed on a number of occasions over the years, the position is that, under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders, 1925 to 1976, the widow of a former member of the force is not entitled to a widow's pension unless the marriage took place before the termination of his service in the force. Accordingly, the person concerned is not entitled to a Garda widow's pension.
As indicated in recent correspondence with the Deputy, a claim for the payment of a widow's pension in the case of post-retirement marriages is being processed under the Garda Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme but, even if the claim were to be met, it would not affect the position of the person mentioned who is in receipt of a contriburory widow's pension under the Social Welfare Acts.