Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004
304 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will make a statement on the EU report of June 2003 on women in rural areas; and the way in which her Department proposes to implement the report's recommendations on retirement, maternity, disability and other benefits. [4166/04]
View answerThe report on women in rural areas of the European Union was developed by the European Parliament's committee on women's rights and equal opportunities to inform the mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy. The main issue of relevance to my Department relates to the availability of social insurance and consequent benefits for women working in agriculture with particular regard to the situation of existing spouses.
In this country, the social insurance status of men and women engaged in a family business, including farms, varies with the circumstances of the case. The legislation provides that a person, man or woman, who is employed directly by his/her spouse is not covered by social insurance. Likewise, if a spouse participates in the business of a self employed contributor but is not a partner in the business, he/she is not liable for social insurance.
However, where both are engaged in a business partnership together, they are treated as individual self employed contributors. Both make social insurance contributions and enjoy social insurance benefits accordingly, including maternity benefit and old age pensions. Furthermore, where a family business is incorporated as a limited company, spouses in the business pay contributions either as employees of the company or as self employed persons if they are proprietary directors of that company.
A working group was established under social partnership, and is chaired by my Department, to "produce proposals for the development of a fully inclusive social insurance model which would facilitate combining work and family responsibilities in the context of changing working and social patterns". The social partnership group is currently examining further the issue of insurability of spouses, including how to assist in promoting knowledge among farming communities of the availability of the partnership option. The social partnership group is expected to report in the near future.
