Source: European Parliament
The Commission recognises that the Irish Marriage Bar, which required women to leave public sector employment upon marriage and was lifted in 1973-1974 shortly after Ireland’s accession to the EU, was a measure that had clear negative consequences for women’s participation in the labour market and their pension entitlements.
As far as the occupational social security schemes that the Honourable Member refers to are concerned, Directive 2006/54/EC[1], which codified earlier legislation including Directive 76/207/EEC on gender equality in access to employment and occupation (in force since 1976), applies to equal opportunities in access to the labour market.
The Irish ban lifted in 1973/74 would on substance not seem to be compatible with this legislation but is not covered by the application of the directive ratione temporis.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/54/oj/eng.