Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Finance his proposals in regard to entitlement to the Civil Service retirement pension being extended to women who had to retire from the Civil Service due to the compulsory marriage ban (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41376/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to 1 June 1973, no superannuation benefits were payable to civil servants, male or female, on cessation of service prior to age 60 other than in cases of retirement on grounds of ill-health or death in service. Prior to 1974, female officers were required to resign on marriage and received marriage gratuities.

Following the abolition of the marriage bar, any officer appointed prior to early 1974 now has the option of resigning within two years of marriage or remaining in employment. Officers who resign may preserve their pension entitlements until minimum pension age, normally 60, or receive a marriage gratuity in lieu of any pension entitlements.

I do not have any plans to extend civil service pension benefits to former officers who received marriage gratuities. However, any officer who has received a marriage gratuity, including those who resigned prior to 1974, who is subsequently reappointed to the civil service or any other area of the public service may, on refund of the gratuity with appropriate interest, have all service given prior to that resignation aggregated with subsequent service for pension purposes.