Ongoing implications of the Irish Marriage Bar for gender equality

Question for written answer E-003161/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lynn Boylan (The Left)

In its response to Written Question E-001933/2025[1], the Commission noted that the Irish Marriage Bar, which was lifted in 1973-74, would not have been compatible with EU legislation on gender equality in access to employment which has been in effect since 1976, but that ratione temporis the Marriage Bar is not covered by EU legislation.

Although the Marriage Bar was lifted in 1973-74, it still has consequences for women today. Women who worked in the wider public service but stopped working after marriage are not able to count those years worked to qualify for a Social Welfare Contributory Pension. This limits their present-day access to pensions and is a disadvantage that only impacts women.

Does EU law create any obligation for a Member State to remedy situations of gender discrimination resulting from policy decisions made before the existence of EU gender equality legislation, where those situations of gender discrimination are still impacting the lives of EU citizens today?

Submitted: 31.7.2025

• [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-001933-ASW_EN.html