Vol. 361 No. 13
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is intended to implement the Social Welfare (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1985; the measures he intends to take under section 20 of the Act to mitigate income losses for certain families that would otherwise arise under the terms of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
35.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the EC equality directive will be implemented; and the reason for the undue delay in implementing it.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 35 together.
The Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985, which was enacted last July, provides for the implementation of EC Directive 79/7/EEC on equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security. Section 24 of the Act states that it will come into operation on a date to be fixed by ministerial order.
It is generally known that the delay in implementing the Act is due to the fact that one of the trade unions which has the highest number of staff membership in the Department has taken the view that the implementation of the Act cannot go ahead until such time as certain staffing issues have been resolved. Discussions are actively under way on this matter at the present time and it is the intention to begin implementing the Act as soon as the difficulties have been resolved.
As indicated in the course of the debate on the Bill in the Dáil alleviating measures to prevent or mitigate income losses for certain families which would otherwise arise from implementing the directive will be provided by regulation. One regulation will enable claimants' spouses who are earning £50 a week or less to continue to be regarded as adult dependants. A second regulation will enable a special transitional payment of £10 a week to families where, on the commencement of the Act, both spouses are independently entitled to social welfare payments.
