News
The fight continues for ISCP members
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members and delegates for attending our 2023 Annual Parliament Meeting last week. We had a wonderful day of discussion and debate while exchanging views on the announcements of Budget 2024. The overall response to the Budget was one of disappointment and confusion. Our members expressed how they felt let down by Government and once again, older persons were an oversight in this year’s budget.
We managed to put our budgetary frustrations to one side to speak about the continued work of the ISCP and to celebrate all of our achievements to date. We also took a moment to pause and pay tribute to past ISCP members who have sadly passed away in the last year. Once our delegates were up to date on current and future work, we continued to discuss the future direction of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament.
It was made very clear to us that our members still have the drive and determination to continue fighting for their rights and for security in retirement. We must always remember that we are advocating for everyone’s future. It won’t be long until our older population outnumber the rest and our Government need to prepare for this in advance. We need to future-proof and implement policies which support our entire population at every stage of life. The ISCP will continue to do our best to elevate and promote the voice of our growing population of older persons.
Budget 2024 proves disrespect is rising quicker than our ageing population
Irish Senior Citizens Parliament members believe that this current Government no longer have respect for older people. Speaking at their Annual Parliament Meeting, members expressed disbelief at how detached and dispassionate current Ministers are.
“Believing that the €12 offered would allow people to meet their bills especially as we head into winter, is evidence of how out of touch this Government is.” says Imelda Browne President ISCP.
CEO Sue Shaw expressed the deep disappointment and anxiety felt by members. This will ensure that older people are pushed into poverty and left struggling to survive. Fear of not being able to meet their bills and heat their home is not good for the health and well-being of older people.
This was an opportunity for Government to keep the promise that was made to benchmark the pension to 34% of the average wage which would offer a strong sense of income security to older people. This could have been introduced this year with a commitment to implement the change over this and the next budget. That would have meant an increase of €26 this year, instead of the €12 which is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount needed to keep older people out of poverty and hardship.
Culture Night 2023 – the perfect opportunity to reengage with your community
Culture Night first began back in 2006, largely contained within Temple Bar in Dublin City Centre. This year, Culture Night celebrates its 18th birthday as an all-island celebration of Irish culture. Thousands of free events are taking place tomorrow night, Friday 22nd September, all over the country.
Culture night brings people of ages together, bridging the gap between generations while creating a sense of belonging and community. It is a wonderful night to experience something new or to reengage with your local community, especially if you have been feeling reluctant to participate since the pandemic. Many older individuals feel detached from our rapidly changing society and we have noticed that the ‘Covid hangover’ still looms and is discouraging our members from attending social gatherings. Culture Night can help foster a sense of pride and belonging as the nation celebrates Irish customs and traditions.
Culture night offers a diverse range of activities that cater to different interests and prides itself on being a free, accessible and age-friendly night of festivities. The night often includes workshops, demonstrations, and talks where people can learn new skills or deepen their knowledge about various cultural aspects. Such performances and explorations are taking place in art centres, community centres, libraries, cafes and multiple public spaces showcasing art, music, spoken word, comedy, film, theatre and the list goes on…
Access to cultural activities in local communities and villages is a key part of this year’s programme and you can find out what’s on in your local area by clicking HERE.
Some events may require booking so make sure there are tickets available before you make the trip to the local community centre. And most importantly, everyone at the ISCP wishes you a truly magical night!
Cost-of-Living continues to Divide
The cost-of-living crisis in Ireland has become a grievous financial burden for most, but especially for those who depend on fixed incomes including state pensioners. Many individuals and families are continuing to struggle to meet their basic needs.
As we are aware, the VAT rate increased from 9% to 13.5% on the 1st of September with our members already feeling the pinch in their pockets. The increase in VAT has affected supplies of certain food and beverages in restaurants, take-aways and catering, hairdressing and beautician services, admissions to cinemas and museums, as well as holiday accommodation. Ireland now has the third-highest hospitality VAT rate in Europe.
As well as the increase in VAT we were also faced with the double whammy of an increase in fuel prices. Petrol excise rates rose by 7 cents per litre and diesel prices increased by 5 cents per litre. This was the second of three planned tax increases on motor fuel, the next increase coming into effect on October 31st.
Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson, Pierce Doherty, recently appeared on RTE Radio 1 and responded to Pinergy Company’s promise of cutting energy prices from October. Pierce claimed that “wholesale electricity prices in Ireland have fallen by 64% in the last 12 months” yet Irish energy companies choose to continue to charge peak prices. He has called for an investigation by the energy regulator and advocated for the application of windfall taxes and levies on such companies which would follow in the footsteps of other European countries.
The overall inflation rate in Ireland has led to a general increase across the board, while social welfare rates remain exceptionally low and highly inadequate. Higher costs for housing, healthcare, and utilities have strained financial resources placing older people, and low to middle income families in financial insecurity or at risk of poverty. This situation has forced people to make difficult choices, such as cutting back on necessary expenses and sacrificing their quality of life.
It is difficult not to reflect on the Paper entitled “Survival of the Richest” published by Oxfam in January of this year. The paper found that the richest 1% have nearly twice as much wealth as the rest of the world put together.
Oxfam has called on governments globally to:
- Introduce one-off solidarity wealth taxes and windfall taxes to end crisis profiteering.
- Permanently increase taxes on the richest 1 percent, for example to at least 60 percent of their income from labour and capital, with higher rates for multi-millionaires and billionaires. Governments must especially raise taxes on capital gains, which are subject to lower tax rates than other forms of income.
- Tax the wealth of the richest 1 percent at rates high enough to significantly reduce the numbers and wealth of the richest people, and redistribute these resources. This includes implementing inheritance, property and land taxes, as well as net wealth taxes.
We continue to advocate for all older persons in Ireland and hope that Budget 2024 will bring significant change in reducing the financial burden for all.