Written answers

Wednesday, 4 July 2007

Department of Finance

Pension Provisions

9:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 80: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of women who retired on marriage who were Civil Servants and local government officials and who were never given the opportunity to return to work after the marriage bar was lifted, who have no pensions as a consequence; the proposals, the Government has to deal with this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19228/07]

Photo of Brian CowenBrian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I have primary responsibility for Civil Service pensions. My colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is primarily responsible for the Local Government Superannuation code. Prior to 31 July 1973 female public servants (with very limited exceptions) were required by law to resign on marriage. In such cases, employees who had at least five years service (six years prior to 1 January 1968) qualified for marriage gratuities.

The "marriage bar" was removed in 1973. Various initiatives, providing for reinstatement, in certain circumstances, of persons who had resigned on account of this were then introduced. These initiatives were formally removed in 1996 following a successful challenge that they discriminated in favour of a particular category of women. Provided they met the specific requirements for a job there was nothing to prevent such persons from applying for posts both within and outside the public service. Many did, subsequently, re-enter the public service.

Persons who were obliged to resign on foot of the marriage bar received a "marriage gratuity" in lieu of pension entitlement. A person who received a "marriage gratuity" and who was subsequently re-employed in the public service, could however have had their former service reckoned for pension purposed provided, of course, that they repaid the gratuity previously received, with compound interest.

A total of 1,240 marriage gratuities were paid in the period 1962 to 1973. However this would not cover cases of officers who left the service with less than the minimum service required to qualify for marriage gratuities. Records are only available in cases in which benefits were actually paid. I have no plans to make any changes to the Superannuation Acts in relation to this issue.

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