Rights of cohabiting couples must be a priority for incoming Govt – Kelly
Labour’s Alan Kelly has called on Minister Callerary to prioritise the rights of cohabiting couples by fast-tracking the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill to provide backdated payments to eligible families.
Deputy Kelly said:
“This time last year my friend and neighbour Johnny O’Meara was successful in his Supreme Court case to provide the widower’s pension to surviving partners who were not married.
“Addressing this anomaly in the legislation must be a key priority of the incoming Government and Minister Callerary.
“At the heart of Johnny O’Meara’s case is the disparity and gaps in our social protection system that must be addressed to provide support to grieving partners in cohabiting couples. Our current system fails to protect those who choose not to marry or those who simply haven’t formalised their partnership.
“So many people are impacted by this gap in the system, and are waiting for clarity and fairness once and for all.
“Johnny O’Meara’s case has always been about equality for his family. The lack of welfare supports for unmarried couples is a stain on Irish society. We need to step up and address the situation to provide equality for all families. It needs to be a priority for this Government.”