Sinn Féin TD for Galway East, Louis O’Hara, has welcomed legislation known as the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill to extend the widow and widower’s pension to cohabiting couples. The legislation has come about following a legal case taken by John O’Meara, who was refused the payment following the death of his long-term partner, and O’Hara said it was critical that the legislation is progressed and enacted quickly.
Speaking during a Dáil debate on the bill, TDeputyp O’Hara said this legislation is long awaited and much needed for bereaved partners, who have been discriminated against. So it is very welcome, but the government have been slow to recognise the changing make-up of modern families and relationships and it is regrettable that it took a grieving partner to take a court case to make this change happen.
“Many couples choose to live together without formalizing their union through marriage. This choice does not diminish the love, commitment, or partnership that these couples share.
“When a person passes away, the surviving partner faces significant emotional and financial challenges. Denying them access to this pension adds an additional burden during an already painful time.
O’Hara raised the case of one of his constituents who had lost her partner, and she was made to feel ‘like a nobody, like their relationship didn’t matter’ after her partner had passed away and left in a difficult financial position.
He asked the Minister to give consideration to expanding the Bill’s retrospection to before 22nd January 2024.
“This discrimination against bereaved partners did not start on that date, it existed long before that and many families were impacted financially before the O’Meara judgement – some of them have endured severe financial hardship, had to give up work and so on and this should be acknowledged.
“This legislation is welcome, but we need the legislation enacted quickly. Too many people are being left in precarious financial situations, struggling to make ends meet without the support they need. We need to ease the pressure on these people, get the legislation enacted as quickly as possible and ensure a compassionate approach to supports for people awaiting the enactment.
