Richard Bruton
Ceist:26 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social Welfare the future proposals, if any, he plans to introduce in order to strengthen equality provisions within the social welfare code.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Code.
Mary Harney
Ceist:47 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he intends to review the social welfare system to ensure that it is not sexist.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 47 together.
Equal treatment of men and women under the social security system has been provided for in legislation in accordance with the terms of the EC Directive in this matter.
The main area not covered by the EC Directive is that of survivors' pensions. In the 1989 Social Welfare Act I extended the widow's (non-contributory) pension scheme to cover widowers with dependent children. Prior to that there had been no specific schemes for widowers. This was expanded in the 1990 Social Welfare Act by the introduction of the lone parents allowance which made provision for the various categories of lone parents including both widowers and separated and deserted fathers.
The social insurance schemes for widowers and deserted wives do not apply to men. The cost of extending to widowers and deserted husbands the present social insurance arrangements for widows and deserted wives estimated to be in the region of £50 million in a full year.
The issue of extending social insurance cover to widowers also arises for consideration in the context of proposals published in 1987 by the EC Commission for the adoption of a further directive aimed at extending the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women to the remaining areas of social security including pensions. The EC is continuing its examination of these proposals.
The question of social insurance cover for people in these situations is one of the issues being examined by the national pensions board in the context of its proposals for a new national pensions system. I expect to receive the board's report shortly and the matter will then be given further consideration in the context of the recommendations contained therein.
As far as the application of the legislation is concerned, care is taken to ensure that administrative guidelines and practice do not involve discrimination in the treatment of men and women. With regard to information leaflets issued by the Department and the drafting of legislation, there is a policy of ensuring that all publications are of a non-sexist nature. Care is taken to monitor the language and art work used as part of an ongoing policy by the Department as leaflets are updated on a regular basis.