Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Free Legal Advice Centres

2:00 am

Mr. Christopher Bowes:

The legislation allows for the Minister to introduce regulations that provide for how this will be assessed, but it is certainly a new form of investigation and adjudication for the Department to look at the relationship of married people to decide whether it is an intimate and committed relationship.