Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Pension Provisions.

Richard Bruton

Question:

231 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the recent pension review in the public service considered the position of women who were forced to retire from the public service under the marriage bar; if it recommended pension concessions for these women; if he has opened negotiations with representatives of public service employees on this issue; and if the Government will consider introducing a scheme to recognise the contribution made by these workers. [8062/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

Until 1973, the law required female established civil servants to resign on marriage. Civil servants affected by this requirement did not qualify for superannuation benefits. They did, however, qualify for a marriage gratuity of one month's pay per year of service, subject to a maximum of one year's salary, provided that they had five years' service. A similar situation prevailed elsewhere in the public service.

The position of women who resigned because of the marriage bar was not addressed by the Commission on Public Service Pensions, except in so far as the commission dealt with the interest rate applied on marriage gratuity repayment where such women were re-employed in the public service. In its final report, published in January 2001, the commission recommended that compound interest should continue to apply to repayment of the gratuity, but that the current rate of 6% should be reduced to 4%.

In September 2001 the Government accepted the thrust of the package of reforms recommended by the commission, and set up a working group to advise on implementation of those reforms. The operational details of the commission recommendations were to be agreed by Government on receipt of a report from the working group, which comprised representatives of the public service unions and relevant Government Departments. The working group has considered the commission's recommendation concerning the interest rate on marriage gratuity repayment. The report of the working group is currently being drawn up, it is expected that it will be put before Government by the middle of this year.

The Government will carefully consider the advice it receives from the working group on the interest rate applied to marriage gratuity repayment. Beyond this, there are no plans to alter thestatus quo with regard to former public servants who retired on marriage.