News

Annual Parliament Meeting – 26-27 March 2010

By Grace | 23rd 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

National Pensions Framework

By Grace | 4th March 2010

Following the launch of the long awaited National Pensions Framework, by Minister Hanafin today at Government Buildings, Máiréad Hayes CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament (ISCP) welcomed the Framework Launch but expressed her concern over the increase in the minimum age for the non-contributory State pension.

The Parliament has always been of the view that any increase in the age of retirement should be voluntary with choices available to the person based on what is best for them.

While we support the option to allow people to continue working longer, the mandatory age increase may not fully take the individual health and well-being of Older People into consideration.

There appears to be no ongoing commitment to move beyond the 35% of gross Average Industrial Earnings which the Framework has set out and the ISCP will work to increase this figure over time.

We welcome the introduction of Credits for Homemakers from 2012 which will replace disregards retrospective to 1994. This will benefit many women. However there are many women who were in caring and homemaker roles prior to that time. Many of them are   also affected by the marriage bar and we would urge the Minister to re-examine these issues.

We welcome the concept of the introduction of the auto-enrolment scheme. We will be closely watching how it evolves. We were in favour of a system which would be State run.

We invite public participation in this debate – come to www.seniors.ie and let us know what you think

concluded Ms Hayes.

ENDS


Recommendations on Pension Reform from the ISCP (1 Page)Recommendations on Pension Reform from the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

  1. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament is calling for a new pension system that guarantees an income adequate to meet all the needs of pensioners. Respect for Older People and a commitment to maintaining independence in old age would underpin this system. In this system a pension would be an income replacement not a minimum anti-poverty measure. An adequate pension would lead to a number of gains for society, not least social inclusion and a positive ageing experience for all (O’Shea in O’Dell, 2006). A system underwritten by these principles would be progressive and sustainable.
  2. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament proposes a new pension system where  mandatory contributions are made to a State run scheme which guarantees a pension of 50% of Gross Average Industrial Earnings on retirement.
  3. Mandatory occupational pensions should be offered to all staff. Staff should not be allowed to opt out as most of our members state that where they have a GOOD PENSION it is because they had to pay for it.
  4. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament calls for reforms that would enable all Older People who need it to qualify for the State non-contributory pension.
  5. The benchmark system to be applied should be the best that is on offer.
  6. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament calls for the Homemakers’ Scheme to be backdated to allow Older Women to receive a full pension in their own right
  7. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament calls for women with inadequate contribution records to be provided with a pension in recognition of their contribution to the economy and society.
  8. The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament calls for a total contributions approach to qualifying for a pension because every contribution made can be used to fund pensions and should be redeemable regardless of when or how the contribution was made.
  9. In the context of class D and dependent adult allowances, we suggest that the agreement for some farmer/self-employed spouses may provide a solution to deal with them. The SCOPE model agreed under the “Towards 2016” Social Partnership Agreement by the IFA, DSFA and Revenue surely provides an innovative blueprint for the resolution of other anomalies.
  10. We recommend that the pension be paid at 65 and the Transition pension be abolished.
  11. This allowance should be increased annually in line with inflation.

National Pensions Framework

By Grace | 1st March 2010

National Pensions Framework Announced!

Following the launch of the long awaited National Pensions Framework, by Minister Hanafin today at Government Buildings, Máiréad Hayes CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament (ISCP) welcomed the Framework but expressed her concern over the increase in the minimum age for the non-contributory State pension.

The Parliament has always been of the view that any increase in the age of retirement should be voluntary with choices available to the person based on what is best for them.

While we support the option to allow people to continue working longer, the mandatory age increase may not fully take the individual health and well-being of Older People into consideration.

Anna O’Farrell, Chairperson of the ISCP’s Pensions Committee, said that what was really needed was a sustainable contributory pension scheme with state guarantees to provide a pension of 50% of gross average industrial earnings on retirement rather than the 35% recommended in the Framework.

If the state can guarantee the banks, why can they not guarantee pensions?

asked Ms O’Farrell.

Ms. Hayes pointed out that there is a cumulative impact from a number of recent government decisions which together are increasing the risk of poverty amongst Older People in Ireland.

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament recommended in their submission to the Green Paper on Pensions that

Mandatory occupational pensions should be offered to all staff and staff should not be able to opt out.

We invite public participation in this debate – come to www.seniors.ie and let us know what you think

concluded Ms Hayes.

Proposed Pension Age Increase

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament is concerned that the reported increase in the minimum age for the non-contributory State pension might not fully take the individual health & well-being of Older People into consideration.

Responding to the press reports arising from the upcoming launch of the Government’s “National Pensions Framework” and Bank of Ireland’s announcement that it may raise its retirement age to 68, Máiréad Hayes CEO of the Parliament said that any change to retirement age must be gradual & must take the circumstances of the individual Older Person into account.

Minister of Social & Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin warned last October that the Government might raise the pension age. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced in Budget 2010 that future public servants would not qualify for a full pension until the age of 66, while the Dept. of Finance has indicated that the retirement age could be set at 70 for public servants. This was also an option mentioned in the McCarthy Report.

The ISCP welcomes the clarification by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, on the other hand, that there are no immediate plans to increase the existing retirement age for either public or private sector workers.  In particular we note his statement that the Pension Framework

would be a ‘very long-term framework’, setting out Government thinking on pensions and retirement age.

Continuing Máiréad Hayes pointed out that there is a cumulative impact from a number of recent government decisions all of which are increasing the risk of poverty amongst Older People in Ireland. Pensions & retirement must be agreed in a coherent fashion and any changes must take both short-term & long-term objectives into consideration.

We have today initiated public participation in this debate on our website – come to www.seniors.ie and let us know your views

concluded Ms Hayes.

The Statistics:

People are living longer. The average Irishman lives to 77, the average Irishwoman to 82.

The Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland predicts that the number of people aged 75 and over will hit one million by 2041. That is three times more than the current figure.

Some Issues to consider:

Retirement Age in Ireland according to Citizens’ Information

  • At the moment, most occupational pension schemes allow workers to retire at the age of 65, while the state contributory pension is paid from age 66.
  • A state transition pension is paid from 65 years for those who retire before 66.
  • What is the best Age you may retire?
  • What is the best Age you must retire?
  • State provision of pension v private provision v Employer provision
  • Contributory v Non-contributory
  • Pension Fund or Pay-as-you-go?
  • Defined benefit v defined contribution – who takes the risk?
  • Indexing: match inflation or salaries or none at all
  • Guarantee of occupational pensions (Waterford)
  • Number of weeks contribution required for full state pension (NI decreasing from 40 years to 30 years)
  • Living alone allowance – no increase in years

International:

Spain raised its retirement age in Feb 2010 to 67 for all people born after 1959, as part of measures to combat the crisis in the public finances.

Greece has raised its retirement age to 61.

Britain will phase in a retirement age of 68 over the next 40 years – the state pension age will rise to 66 in 2024, to 67 in 2034 and 68 in 2044, with each increase being phased in over two years. But recently there have been calls for the retirement age to rise to 70.

Audio & Video:

Web Links:

1/3/2010

Irish Independent article: http://www.independent.ie/national-news/retirement-age-new-plan-to-keep-us-working-beyond-65-2084121.html

Irish Independent opinion piece, Charlie Weston: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/charlie-weston-ageold-pension-worries-enough-to-turn-you-grey-2084038.html

Irish Independent editorial: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/editorial/pension-crisis-needs-answers-2084042.html

RTE – NI to cut state pension requirements: http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0301/pensions.html

RTE – Taoiseach’s long fingering of change: http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0301/pension.html

RTE – Today with Pat Kenny, 1/3/2010

Herald – Pension Age set for 68

2/3/2010

Irish Times opinion poll, 2/3/2010

Irish Independent – State will begin process of raising retirement age to 68 in four years

Irish Independent – Everyone will have to pay for their pensions (top story, front page)

Examiner – Pension Plan changes ‘very long term’

Irish Times – Cowen says “No immediate change” to retirement age

Irish Times opinion poll, 2/3/2010

NewsTalk 106 – Government to unveil pension scheme

Older links for context:

Irish Times – public servants to be allowed work until 70:, 27/3/2010

Mary Hanafin answering Dáil questions on the Framework 23/2/2010

RTE – UCD warn of increase in retirement age, 21/2/2008: www.rte.ie/news/2008/0421/pensions.html

RTE – Actuaries have called for an increase in the retirement age, 28/5/2008: http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0528/pensions.html

Annual Parliament 2010

By Grace | 25th February 2010

Annual Parliament meeting 2010 in the Liberty Hall Theatre & Conference Centre from 2.00pm on Friday 26 March to 1.00pm Saturday 27 March 2010

The Annual Parliament provides the Parliament’s 400 affiliated member organisations with an opportunity to promote the views of older people, to set policy for the Parliament and to elect officers for the coming year.