Day 1
Bill to Insert Definition of Clergy Permanent Health Insurance Scheme into Constitution
A Bill which seeks to insert a definition of the Clergy Permanent Health Insurance Scheme into the Constitution and to include an express reference to the scheme in the Constitution’s definition of service in the Church of Ireland was introduced at
Bill No 10 was proposed by Michael Johnston and seconded by Hillary Prentice. It has arisen because the Representative Body, as sponsor of the Church of Ireland Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, wants to ensure that a member of the clergy of the Church of Ireland who is a member of the pension scheme, but who for health reasons has resigned from stipendiary service and is receiving financial support under the Clergy Permanent Health Insurance Policy remains eligible to make member contributions to the scheme and for parish, diocesan council or other contributions to be paid to the applicable scheme for that member of clergy.
The Bill seeks to amend Chapter XIV of the Constitution.
Mr Johnston explained that the Bill removes the licensing requirement for clergy availing of Clergy Permanent Health Insurance by, firstly including a definition of “Clergy PHI Policy” in Chapter 14 of the Constitution, and secondly adding clergy “in receipt of payments under the Clergy PHI Policy” within the definition of Service in the Church of Ireland, so that these clergy continue to be a member of the Church of Ireland Clergy Pensions Fund (where applicable) and a contributing member of either the Northern Ireland Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Scheme or the Republic of Ireland Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Scheme, and so that they remain eligible for Death in Service benefits.
The Bill will receive its third reading on Tuesday 14 May online.