State Pension (Contributory) Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 May 2016

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Ceisteanna (198)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he might examine the ineligibility of entitlement to contributory old age pension for women who had to give up work in the public sector due to the marriage bar or who took time out to rear their families and subsequently returned to the workforce but who do not qualify for a contributory old age pension, despite having a made a contribution to the social and economic well-being of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12052/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The ‘marriage bar’ describes a rule that existed in most of the public service and some private sector employments, where women were required to leave their employment upon marriage. This practice was abolished in 1973 when Ireland joined the EEC. As employees in the public service generally paid a reduced rate of PRSI, which provided no cover for the State pension (contributory), the marriage bar would not generally have impacted on State pension entitlement, as they would not have qualified for that payment had they remained in public sector employment.

Instead, by impacting upon their continuing public service employment, the marriage bar’s pension implications, where they exist, more generally relate to a person’s eventual entitlement to a Public Service pension. Any questions regarding this issue are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.