Government set to extend pension rights to bereaved partners
Social protection minister Dara Calleary will on Tuesday seek Cabinet approval for the change, which will allow long-term partners claim a renamed widower’s contributory pension. Picture: Antonio Guillem Fernandez / Alamy Stock
The Government is set to approve new laws that will extend pension rights to bereaved partners.
Social protection minister Dara Calleary will on Tuesday seek Cabinet approval for the change, which will allow long-term partners claim a renamed widower’s contributory pension.
The change comes a year after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of John O’Meara, a Tipperary father of three who took a case after being excluded from the widower’s contributory pension after the death of his partner of 20 years, Michelle Batey.
The new legislation will extend eligibility to the payment to “qualified cohabitants” who were in a committed relationship for two years with a child — or if the relationship was longer than five years otherwise.
The scheme is set to be renamed from the widower’s contributory pension to the Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension.
When enacted, there will not be any time restrictions for when the bereavement of a partner occurred — but payments will only be backdated from January 22, 2024 or later, if the death is after this date.
New changes will also see entitlements cease where couples become divorced, enter into a new relationship, or two years after a relationship ends. However, current divorcees will retain their payments.
It is expected that there will be a further 500 recipients of the scheme annually due to this change, with an annual cost set at an expected €50m.
In addition, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan is to seek Cabinet approval to formally establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority.
The new authority is being established to regulate the gambling industry, with powers to oversee the industry both online and in-person.
However, the new agency will not be responsible for regulating the National Lottery. It is expected that the Gambling Regulatory Authority will be set up on March 5.
Meanwhile, energy minister Darragh O’Brien will bring a memo on establishing a strategic gas reserve.
The reserve itself is proposed to be used as an alternative source of gas, if Ireland was to experience an interruption to gas supplies in the future. It is understood that the gas could only be used if subsea interconnectors were disrupted.
The plan was first tabled by then energy minister Eamon Ryan in late 2023.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris will seek Government approval for the President to appoint the new chief of staff of the Defence Forces.
Mr Harris will also seek Cabinet approval for new legislation to amend the triple lock, which would remove the need for a UN-mandate to deploy Irish troops abroad.
Finance minister Paschal Donohoe will also have the Cabinet note the OECD’s which was published in February.
