News
Call to Government on Cost of Living
The recent Budget, while not fully addressing the reality of the increases in the cost of living, did offer some relief by way of increase of €12.00 to all on social welfare payments. The one-off payments and changes to supports also offered some financial relief, albeit on a short-term basis.
However, we are now hearing of difficulties for people in accessing these supports. Across the Cost of Living Coalition we are hearing of people who have applied for supports and have had no response or cannot get an appointment with a Community Liaison Officer. This is particularly difficult for people seeking emergency support.
We eagerly await to hear the particulars of the new cost-of-living package to be announced next Tuesday. We continue to lobby for more targeted, viable and sustainable supports for older people in Ireland.
Joint Committee Hearing on Pensions
On the 25th of January, the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament headed up a delegation of ISCP members, whom are also retired workers, who presented to the Joint Committee on the Industrial Relations Bill. This bill is in relation to the Provisions in Respect of Pensions Entitlements of Retired Workers.
We presented to the Joint Committee, on the inclusion of the voice of retired workers on key decisions relating to their pension income. The Joint Committee is comprised of members from both Houses of the Oireachtas, the Dáil and the Seanad. This is the second stage or detailed scrutiny stage for this Bill and we have a long battle to progress this Bill through the many stages.
However, we are steadfast in our belief that all decisions, regarding the pension income of retired workers, should be decided with their voice and experience being included in the process.
We want to thank those who were in attendance on the day, supporting their peers. We also wish to thank each of the representatives for their excellent presentations and all of their ongoing hard work on this crucial issue.
Telling It Like It Is; Combatting Ageism
We had a wonderful turnout and discussion at the launch of the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs ‘Telling It Like It Is: Combatting Ageism’ yesterday at Leinster House. We received great support from multiple TDs and Senators along with advocates, ISCP members and friends of the Alliance.
Deputy Ministers Niamh Smyth and James Lawless chaired the event while our own CEO Sue Shaw and ALONE’S Sean Moynihan presented the key findings of the report.
Sue Shaw:
The shared reality is the negative impact ageism has across a range of policy areas. Many reported that they experienced additional ageism in the formation of government policy and
society’s attitudes.Descriptions stories and language that promote later life as a period of unavoidable decline, an ageing society as a tsunami waiting to happen, creates tension and anxiety exacerbated by limited resources. We need to challenge this.
You can read the full report “Telling It Like It Is; Combatting Ageism” HERE.
Alliance of Age Sector NGO’s launching ‘Telling It Like It Is; Combatting Ageism’ next week!
‘Telling It Like It Is; Combatting Ageism’ will be launched at an event for TDs and Senators in the audio visual (AV) room, Leinster House on Wednesday January 25th 2023, 12.30pm – 1.30pm.
The report, informed by the lived experience of older people across Ireland, also sets out a number of practical steps that can be taken to combat the ageism which has such serious and far-reaching consequences for peoples health, well-being and human rights.
Ageism means that older people are often associated more with the past than the future. Ageism refers to the stereotypes (thinking), prejudice (feeling) and discrimination (action) directed towards others or oneself based on age. Not all of it is deliberate; unconscious bias about older people pervades Irish society.
We believe this report should be studied and acted upon by all policymakers. We are looking for TDs and Senators to support this key policy issue through their engagement with the launch on Wednesday 25th January. We endeavor to gain their support and assistance in the meaningful implementation of key policies relating to older people.
The Alliance of Age Sector represents the collective thinking of seven significant NGOs working in the age sector, uniting their learning from working with the diversity of older people and the issues that older people face.
The seven-member organisations are Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, ALONE, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Third Age.
Keep an eye on our website and social media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) on Wednesday 25th January where we will give you full access to the report and keep you updated throughout the launch.