O’Meara inspired Bill passes in Dáil

The Social Welfare Bereaved Partners Pension Bill 2025 - also known as the O’Meara Inspired bill after Toomevara man Johnny O’Meara and his late wife Michelle - has been passed in the Dáil. Deputy Alan Kelly, who supported Johnny O’Meara in his pursuit of this campaign, has praised Mr O’Meara for the lasting impact this bill will have on families across Ireland.

“This was a very important week for people across Tipperary and Ireland who lost their partners and were unable then to get a widow’s pension. This bill will change that forever,” explained Alan Kelly.

Now that the Social Welfare Bereaved Partners Pension Bill 2025 has passed the Dáil, it will now move on to be passed by the Seanad and then it will be signed into law by the President of Ireland.

Deputy Kelly has dedicated the success of this bill to Johnny O’Meara:

“This change is principally down to one person, and that’s Johnny O’Meara from Toomevara who fought for this change on behalf of his late partner Michelle and his three children Aoife, Jack and Tommy.

“I stood with Johnny all the way on this and fought to change the law with my Labour colleagues, in particular our spokesperson Mark Wall, TD.

“Johnny also had the support of TREOIR.

“The fight went on for years and eventually the Supreme Court in January 2024 said we were right” said Mr Kelly.

Mr O’Meara took action against the Supreme Court in 2024 after he was refused the Widower’s pension due to not being married or having a civil partnership with late partner Michelle.

His claim for the Widower's Contributory Pension (WCP) arose after his partner of over 20 years, Michelle Batey, died after contracting Covid-19 in January 2021.

Their claim found the section of the legislation excluding Mr O'Meara from claiming the pension was invalid and unconstitutional as it did not extend to Mr O'Meara as a parent of the couple's three children, who were all minors at the time.

The Social Welfare Bereaved Partners Pension Bill 2025 will extend the eligibility of partners to qualify for the bereaved partner’s pension as cohabitants. This means that partners who were not legally married or in a civil partnership, but were living together in a committed relationship, will now be eligible for the pension if certain conditions are met.

“It’s something I’m very proud of and I’m particularly proud of and I applaud Johnny O’Meara from Toomevara who fought for equality and has made so many people’s lives just a little bit better,” said Deputy Kelly.

Minister Dara Calleary acknowledged all this work when summing matters up in the Dáil when he said: “I want to thank and acknowledge Mr O’Meara this evening and also particular acknowledge Deputy Alan Kelly who stood with him, walked with him.”