Annual Parliament Meeting – 26-27 March 2010

Do you want to hear what Older People think about Ireland 2010?

Much, Oh So Much, has changed since our last Annual Parliament Meeting.

Come along to the Liberty Hall Theatre and Conference Centre on Friday 26 & Saturday 27 March to hear what our senior citizens have to say about these changes and how they affect their daily lives.

Come along and meet the delegates representing our affiliated organisations and hear what they have to say on such issues about pensions, medical cards, water charges and the withdrawal of the additional payment at Christmas to name a few.

The meeting starts at 1300hrs on Friday and at 1030hrs on Saturday. A copy of the Final Agenda and Standing Order is below.

ANNUAL PARLIAMENT MEETING

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, 26th & 27th March 2010

THE LIBERTY HALL THEATRE AND CONFERENCE CENTRE

Siptu, LIBERTY HALL, DUBLIN 1

STANDING ORDERS REPORT NO. 1

The Standing Orders Committee have examined the nominations for all the candidates for the following positions and found them to be in order:

PRESIDENT Jim Cousins, Peter Campbell

VICE-PRESIDENT Ena O’Mahoney

HONORARY SECRETARY Evelyn Moran

TREASURER Nell Foley

TRUSTEE John James McLoughlin, John Tierney

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Peter Campbell Anna O’Farrell Jim Cousins Ena O’Mahoney Nell Foley Breda O’Malley Anthony Gilligan Patrick Philpott Henry Harding Séamus Rodgers Barney Hartnett Patrick A. Stanley Joe Jennings John Tierney Ignatius Martin Gerry Whyte Pat Morgan Jeremiah Withers John J Murray

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE

Patrick Clarke, Nuala Early, Frank Farrelly, Jim McArdle, Jim Quinn, Frank Waters

As there are 2 nominations for the position of President there will be an ELECTION for the position of President.

As only one nomination was received for each of the positions of Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer there will be be NO ELECTION for the positions of Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.

As there are only 2 nominations for the position of Trustee and two vacancies there will be no ELECTION for the position of Trustee.

There are 19 nominations in respect of the 15 positions on the Executive Committee and as three of the candidates for the Executive are unopposed for positions as Officers of the Parliament this reduces the number of validly nominated candidates to 16. However two of the remaining candidates for the Executive committee are the two people contesting the position of President of the ISCP namely, Peter Campbell and Jim Cousins. Therefore on the election of one of them to that position this will leave a situation where 15 people will then be validly nominated for the 15 places on the Executive. As a result there will be no ELECTION for the positions on the Executive Committee.

As the nominations for the Standing Orders Committee are sufficient there will be NO ELECTION for the Standing Orders Committee.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR VOTING

Ballot papers will be distributed on Saturday, 27th March 2010, at 11.00hrs. Each delegate will be required to produce their pre-numbered Delegate Card to the Scrutineers before receiving their ballot paper.

ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT 11.00HRS SATURDAY, 27th March 2010

BALLOT BOXES WILL BE PLACED IN THE CONFERENCE HALL VOTING WILL CLOSE AT 11.45HRS (SHARP)

RETURNING OFFICER

It is recommended that Jane Boushell be invited to act as Returning Officer for the elections.

PROCEEDINGS WILL COMMENCE AT 14.00HRS ON FRIDAY AND AT 10.30HRS ON SATURDAY

LIMITATION OF SPEAKERS

Subject to the discretion of the Chairperson of the Annual Parliament Meeting the proposer of a motion shall be allowed 4 minutes and each subsequent speaker 2 minutes. Delegates are requested to comply with these time limits to ensure completion of the Agenda. In the event of there being a time problem with regard to the completion of the business of the APM a further Standing Orders Report may be moved to deal with a reduction of these timings.

It is recommended that the Parliament Meeting closes no later than 13.30hrs on Saturday, 27th March 2010.

MOTIONS 2010

The motions received were examined by the Standing Orders Committee and were found to be in order. The committee recommends that motions 18, 19 & 20 be composited and the proposers of the motions have agreed to Composite number 1.

Composite Motion No. 1

Prescription Charges

This Conference condemns the introduction of a 50 cent per item charge on Medical Card Holder’s prescriptions which in their view is targeting the poorest of the population. Many older people require a number of medications and at 50 cent per item this will mean another drain on already stretched incomes. We call on the Executive Committee of the ISCP to meet urgently with the Minister for Finance with a view to abolishing prescription charges for all senior citizens on medical cards.

Motion will be proposed by SIPTU Region2

Seconded by Cork Council of Trade Unions

Supported by SIPTU Region 4

Dinner & Social Evening

There will be a Meal & Social Evening on Friday, 26th March 2010, at 18.30hrs.

DELEGATES ARE REQUESTED TO NOTIFY THE OFFICE IF THEY WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THE MEAL EITHER TO 01 8561243 OR BY EMAIL.

AGENDA

FIRST SESSION

FRIDAY, 26th March 2010(DAY 1)

12.00hrs–13.50hrs Registration of Delegates

14.00hrs Welcome Address – Sylvia Meehan, President, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

14.05hrs Adoption of Standing Orders Report No. 1

14.15hrs Election of Scrutineers and Tellers

14.20hrs Presidential Address – Sylvia Meehan, President

14.35hrs Introduction of Annual Report 2009 – Evelyn Moran, Honorary Secretary

14.45hrs MOTIONS 2010

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL & FAMILY AFFAIRS

Government Pensions Policy

Motion No. 1

Pension Protection

Motion No. 2

State Pension Contribution Payments

Motion No. 3

15.30hrs Address by President of Ireland,Mary McAleese

Followed by Tea/Coffee Break

16.30hrs Additional Payment at Christmas

Motions No. 4, 5 & 6

Fuel Allowance

Motion No. 7

Living Alone Allowance

Motion No. 8

Universal Social Contribution

Motion No. 9

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Home Help Services

Motion No. 10

Financial Abuse

Motion No. 11

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

Transport Services

Motion No. 12

17.45hrs PRESENTATION

18.15hrs END OF FIRST SESSION

18.30hrs MEAL & SOCIAL EVENING

SECOND SESSION

SATURDAY, 27th March 2010 (DAY 2)

09.00hrs REGISTRATION

10.00hrs PRIVATE SESSION

Treasurers Report

Questions & Answers

Election of Auditors

Report from the Funding Committee

MOTIONS 2010 continued…

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & CHILDREN

Universal Health Care

Motion No. 13

Medical Card

Motion Nos. 14, 15 & 16

Prescription Charge

Motion No. 17

Composite Motion No. 1

(Motions 18, 19 & 20)

Dental & Optical Benefits

Motion No. 21

Irish Heart Foundation Stroke Manifesto

Motion No. 22

Mental Health

Motion No. 23

11.00hrs ELECTIONS 2010

DISTRIBUTION OF BALLOT PAPERS

TEA/COFFEE BREAK

11.30hrs MOTIONS 2010 continued…

Nursing Home Support Scheme

Motion Nos. 24 & 25

REPORT OF THE HEALTH SUB COMMITTEE

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Taxes & Charges

Motion No. 26

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Motion Nos. 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RURAL & GAELTACHT AFFIARS

Community Support Scheme

Motion Nos. 32 & 33

Safety & Security in the Home

Motion 34

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Taxation

Motion No. 35

13.25hrs ELECTION RESULTS (if available)

13.30hrs Close of Annual Parliament Meeting with Vote of Thanks to the outgoing President, Sylvia Meehan