Latest news with #RuthCoppinger
Irish Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Concern over law which would see separated parents lose widow's pension rights
A bereaved TD has described her shock at planned changes to the widow's pension which, she said, would have left her and her daughter in financial hardship had they been in place when her former husband died. People Before Profit's Ruth Coppinger was teaching part-time when her daughter's father died last year. 'We were married for 14 years and had a maintenance agreement written into our separation agreement. I was reliant on that,' said Ms Coppinger. When her former husband died suddenly,Ms Coppinger worried about their financial security without his support. READ MORE Divorced or legally separated co-parents have been entitled to the widow's, or widower's, pension for almost 30 years – since the 1995 divorce referendum. The weekly rate is up to €249.50 for those aged under 66 and €289.30 for those aged 66 and older, with increases of €50 for each dependent child under 12 and €62 for each child aged 12 and older. 'It was such a relief, financially and mentally, to know I would get the widow's pension, that I would have that for my daughter,' Ms Coppinger said. Planned changes, however, would see parents in her situation excluded from entitlement to the pension. The Bereaved Partner's Pension Bill , expected to complete its passage through the Dáil on Wednesday, will remove entitlement to the pension from bereaved co-parents with the loss of hundreds of euro a week for them and their children, according to one legal charity. The Free Legal Advice Centres (Flac) is to brief Oireachtas members on its concerns about the Bill on Tuesday. The new law is to give effect to last year's Supreme Court judgment in the O'Meara case which ruled the exclusion of John O'Meara, a bereaved, unmarried father of three, from entitlement to the widower's contributory pension scheme was unconstitutional. It found the rules around access to the pension breached the guarantee of equality in the Constitution by refusing it to a bereaved unmarried parent with exactly the same obligations to their children as a bereaved married parent. While the new law extends entitlement to bereaved cohabiting parents, it stipulates they must be in a committed, intimate relationship and living together at the time of bereavement. It removes the entitlement of those who married the deceased parent of their children, but are divorced or separated from them when they die. The new law will not affect current recipients. The existing scenario, in which divorced or legally separated co-parents are entitled to the pension, has been an 'important protection' against poverty for children where the death of a parent meant the loss of maintenance, Flac has said. Karen Kiernan, chief executive of the support charity One Family, said a 'very small number' of divorced or separated people claim a survivor's pension. 'We see no basis for removing their entitlement,' she said. 'It is highly concerning that the potential financial impact ... on this group does not seem to have been considered by the Department in what is otherwise a very positive piece of legislation.' Damien Peelo, chief executive of lone-parent advocacy organisation Treoir, said the bill risked 'replacing one inequality with another' by excluding divorced or separated parents. 'Grieving children deserve equal treatment, regardless of their parents' relationship status,' he said. Ms Coppinger said the law would 'plunge households into poverty' and could see some children facing 'homelessness on top of grief' if their surviving parent could not pay their rent or mortgage. A Department of Social Protection spokesman said the O'Meara judgment had raised 'a range of complex matters. 'The Bill has been developed to ensure that the principle of equality in the treatment of potential beneficiaries is upheld both in relation to eligibility for the payment and the rules on the loss of entitlement when a relationship ends,' he said. 'The representation that this amounts to discrimination against single parents is incorrect.'
Irish Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘I couldn't think of anything worse to attend': Some Opposition TDs snub invite to US Independence Day celebration
A series of Opposition TDs have said they will not be attending American Independence Day celebrations being organised by the United States embassy. However, others are considering going due to the ties between Ireland and the US. Invites have been issued to TDs and Senators for the event next week. Labour TD Conor Sheehan said: 'I will not be attending. I couldn't think of anything worse to attend'. READ MORE He accused the US of being involved in 'illegal wars overseas' and 'the persecution of people' through immigration raids. Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson said: 'we won't be attending', adding: 'given the context of the US administration at this time it's not really appropriate'. Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman said he did not attend the same event last year 'in light of the US continued support for what's happening in Gaza so I think it's probably unlikely I'll be in a position to attend'. Party colleague Senator Malcolm Noonan said: 'I've already declined.' People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger – who has been highly critical of US support for Israel's war in Gaza – said she is part of the Dublin 15 With Palestine Group and 'we'll be outside protesting because what's happening in the world is just incredible ... We would call on all TDs to boycott it'. Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said his party is not ruling out going to the event and will discuss the matter. He said 'if we shut the door', it would amount to 'lessening a chance of peace out there'. He also highlighted the importance of American companies employing people in Ireland. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said he had to check his diary but 'we'll have no problem attending'. He said Ireland and the US have a 'phenomenal relationship' and while people may have a difference of opinion with Donald Trump's administration 'there's no doubt in my mind that we need to continue to build a positive relationship'.
Irish Times
14-06-2025
- Irish Times
A day in the life of Bere Island primary school
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger played a recording of drones from her neighbour, 'in Blanchardstown, we've been suffering this for over a year and a half."
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on proliferating drones: don't look up
This week the Dáil was warned of a dystopian future of Irish skies filled with commercial drones. People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger played footage of drones hovering noisily over Blanchardstown rooftops, while Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon called for a temporary restriction zone over Glasnevin. Despite the hyperbole, concerns over noise, privacy and safety are valid. At the heart of the growing unease is a company now operating high-frequency drone food deliveries in west Dublin, and reportedly planning to expand to the northern and southern suburbs before rolling out nationwide. With weekly flight volumes already in the thousands, the shift from pilot project to daily reality is well underway. Ireland finds itself at the leading edge of drone delivery in Europe, praised by operators for a regulatory environment that fosters innovation. Drones are being used not just for burgers and burritos, but for medicines and time-sensitive consumer goods. Yet what industry advocates view as forward-thinking policy, critics see as dangerously lax. They argue that existing laws are outpaced by the speed of technological development and ill-equipped to manage the risks. This is acknowledged in the Programme for Government, which commits to integrating drone oversight into the air navigation division of the Irish Aviation Authority. The Taoiseach has conceded new regulations are needed to deal with drones 'flying left, right, centre', suggesting an Oireachtas committee should investigate the matter further. READ MORE While the Government reflects, the drone economy is scaling up fast. Communities in Tallaght, Glasnevin and beyond will soon hear the distinctive buzz overhead if planning applications are successful. The concerns which have been expressed over noise and privacy are legitimate. But others border on the moralistic. The question is not whether drone deliveries will be part of modern life – they already are – but how they are regulated to ensure that innovation serves the public good, rather than intrudes upon it.
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Irish Times
Israel launches attacks on Iran
Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger played a recording of drones from her neighbour, 'in Blanchardstown, we've been suffering this for over a year and a half."
