Vol. 483 No. 3
318 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs whether deserted husbands have enjoyed equality of treatment under the social welfare code since the mid 1980's when European equality provisions came into force; and, if not, the proposals, if any, he has to compensate families adversely affected. [20542/97]
Social welfare payments to deserted spouses are outside the remit of the relevant EEC Directive 79/7 which provides for equal treatment of men and women in social security matter relating to employment. Nevertheless, my Department has been actively pursuing equality of treatment under the social welfare code with the introduction of widower's, non-contributory, pension and one-parent family payment, which is available equally to men and women parenting alone.
