Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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539. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 8 February 2018, the way in which a farmer's spouse is entitled to a State pension in the context of being in an informal partnership; if the direction to issue this entitlement is a result of a European Union directive; the level of engagement her Department had with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the matter; if other sectors can avail of the arrangement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8262/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The 2014 provisions relating the extension of self-employed social insurance to spouse/civil partner performing the same or ancillary tasks as a self-employed worker, but who is not a business partner or an employee, were implemented on foot of Directive 2010/41/EU, relating to the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity.

In line with standard protocol, this measure was circulated to all Government Departments including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Deputy may wish to note that these provisions apply to spouse/civil partners who had previously been excluded from social insurance and apply regardless of the sector in which they operate. It therefore applies to all sectors of the economy, based on the circumstances of each individual “partnership” agreement.