Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I welcome the fact we are on Report Stage of the Bill. I put on record my thanks to John O'Meara, and I recognise his late partner Michelle, and I also thank my colleague, Deputy Kelly, who has put tremendous work into this, as the Minister has acknowledged.

The Minister might clarify the point Deputy Kerrane raised in her contribution. My understanding is that anyone would be entitled to the pension after January 2024 and, therefore, in the case Deputy Kerrane mentioned, the person would be entitled to it after January 2024. I ask the Minister to clarify this. This is the understanding that I have taken to many people. It is a big issue and if this is not the case we will need to revisit the Bill very quickly.

I support amendment No. 1, as I did on Committee Stage. Since we started this discussion, and Deputy Kelly brought it to the Labour Party, a number of separated or divorced persons have come to us. They have relied on the income, particularly for the children of the relationship. As I said the other day, the emphasis of the Bill, through the Supreme Court, is on the children. I ask the Minister, as the other speakers have done, to reconsider this part of the Bill and put something into it that will acknowledge the fact that many people in such a relationship will be out of pocket.

As has been said, the number of people who have contacted us is not large. There are no large numbers in this but it is significant that these people will find themselves considerably out of pocket in some cases. In one case I am aware of, when the children were going to college there was a substantial cost. I ask the Minister to reconsider this. Treoir, FLAC and One Family have highlighted this to us. It is important that we acknowledge this, as has been outlined by the two previous speakers on amendment No. 1.

On amendment No. 2, we want to see how effective the Bill is, which is why we have proposed a report three months after the passing of the Act. It is to ensure we are taking care of the greatest number of people possible. This is what Johnny O'Meara wanted to do. It is what FLAC and Treoir wanted to do when they got behind the Bill, and what Deputy Kelly wanted when he got behind the Bill. We do not want to leave anyone behind. This is why we have asked for a report to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas after three months.

There is an issue with amendment No. 1, which was outlined on Committee Stage. It is something on which we need to hear from the Minister again. The number of people involved is not large but there are people involved. I put the emphasis on the children. With regard to amendment No. 2, which we have tabled, we need to know the Bill is fit for purpose and that all the great work done by John O'Meara and his family, and by Deputy Kelly in assisting them, was worthwhile in the end, and that the Bill will cover the greatest number of people.

See this speech in context