Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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179. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered changes to the pension arrangements for public servants in civil partnership or same-sex marriage arrangements given the recent preliminary European Court of Justice findings in relation to a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20294/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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My role as Minister in the field of pensions relates to issues affecting the civil and public service.  The civil service operates Contributory Pension Schemes which provide benefits to spouses and/or children of deceased scheme members. In summary, when a member dies after retirement, a spouse's pension of up to one-half of the former member's pension is payable.  Dependent children are also entitled to a child's pension.

Same sex married couples are afforded the same benefits under the Civil Service Schemes and the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, as married couples of the opposite sex. The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 extended the benefits provided to spouses under pension schemes to civil partners and the Marriage Act 2015 gives effect to the referendum on marriage equality.

The opinion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice referred to by the Deputy is being studied within my Department.