Vol. 442 No. 3
88 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of claims received in writing by his Department, prior to the 1992 legislation on equality treatment under EC Directive 79/7; if all such claims have been settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The issue raised by the Deputy is related to the implementation of EC Directive 79/7. In view of a number of further proceedings which have been initiated and are pending before the courts relating to the implementation of the directive, I am not in a position to make any comment on this matter on grounds of prejudice to the State's position in the pending proceedings.
89 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will benefit from payment under the European equality case which was settled by his Department recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The position in relation to the settlement recently agreed with FLAC in three cases involving about 1,800 women is on the record of the House in my contribution to the Adjournment Debate on this issue on 13 April 1994. The person concerned is not one of the women involved in these cases.
In view of a number of further proceedings which have been initiatied and are pending before the courts relating to the implementation of the EC directive on equal treatment, I am not in a position to make any further comment on this matter on grounds of prejudice to the State's position in the pending proceedings.
90 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of EEC, EC and EU directives which have come to his Department since Ireland joined the European Community.
There were two principal social security directives for which my Department was mainly responsible, namely Directive 79/7/EEC on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security and Directive 86/378/EEC on the implementation of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes.
There are currently two other directives which may require amendment of the Social Welfare Acts, namely Directive 86/613/EEC on equal treatment between men and women engaged in self-employment and Directive 92/85/EEC which concerns the introduction of measures to improve safety and health at work of pregnant workers.
