Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 16, after line 31, to insert the following:

“Report on the current criteria for Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension 24.The Minister shall review the current criteria in order to qualify for a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension, including the Non-Contributory and Contributory payments, specifically the marriage requirement and explore removing this clause to acknowledge long term partnerships and dependent children and that the report shall be presented to the Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection within nine months of the passing of this Act.”.

I have raised this issue with the Minister on a number of occasions. The year is 2021. This concerns partners who have been together for a long time, especially where they have dependent children, and where, sadly, one of those partners pass away. The other partner is then left with no entitlement to the widow's pension. As I have said to the Minister previously, given this is the 21st century, that clause in respect of the marriage requirement should not continue to exist, especially where there are dependants and children are concerned. I nonetheless welcome the Minister's commitment to examining this, so I will withdraw the amendment.

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