Question to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Mr. Brendan Howlin, TD)
To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will amend legislative provisions in order that all current and former Civil Service employees who are now in civil partnerships can allocate pension entitlements to their civil partner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWER on 10, June, 2015.
REPLY
Based on the terms of Section 99 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act, 2010, all Public Service Pension Schemes now provide equal pension provisions to surviving spouses and civil partners.
The pensions of persons retiring from the Civil Service are generally covered under one of two schemes. The more recent, the “Revised” Spouses’ and Children’s Superannuation Scheme applies to persons appointed on or after 1stSeptember 1984. This Scheme provides for benefits to a surviving spouse or civil partner including where the marriage/civil partnership takes place after retirement. Civil Servants who were appointed on or before 31stAugust 1984, and chose not to opt into the “Revised” Scheme, are members of what is termed the “Original” Spouses’ and Children’s Superannuation Scheme. The “Original” Scheme does not provide for benefits to be payable to a surviving spouse or civil partner where the marriage or civil partnership takes place after retirement.
I also refer to my answer to PQs No. 30991 and 30992 on 14 July 2014. The position has not changed.