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Be fair to older people
BE FAIR TO OLDER PEOPLE
The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament urges the Government to ensure that Older People are not further disadvantaged in Supplementary Budget April 2009. Máiréad Hayes, CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, stated that “Older People are still feeling the effects of Budget 2009. Many are fearful and frightened as they contemplate the changed economic circumstances both in Ireland and worldwide.”
The following table illustrates that when compared with the EU average State Pension at 60% of the average working wage, Ireland’s rate of 32.5% of the average working wage is almost half the EU average.
| Country | State Pension as proportion of average working wage |
| Netherlands | 81.9% |
| Spain | 81.2% |
| Denmark | 79.8% |
| Italy | 67.9% |
| Sweden | 62.1% |
| France | 51.2% |
| Germany | 39.9% |
| Ireland | 32.5% |
| UK | 30.8% |
Source: Aon / OECD; 2007 European Pensions Barometer Report
Noting that Older People in the comparative countries have better health and social care systems she said this Budget must not further disadvantage vulnerable Older People and must treat with justice and fairness.
Loss of Christmas “Bonus” Payment
The Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament Attacks the Loss of Christmas Bonus Payment
Speaking following today’s Supplementary Budget, Máiréad Hayes, CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, expressed bitter disappointment at the axing of the Pensioners “Christmas Bonus”.
Older People have become totally dependent on this extra payment in the dead of winter to help with their fuel, heating and lighting bills.
Hypothermia is a major difficulty for Older People, causing a number of deaths each year. Whilst this payment is termed a “bonus” the fact is that Older People are reliant on this additional payment to help with these additional winter costs.
This is another unwarranted attack on Older People who are seen as an easy target.
Over 70 medical card crisis: Call to action
TO: Each Organisation affiliated to the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament
Dear Colleague,
This is a very difficult time for Older People in Ireland. Since Budget Day the issue of the withdrawal of the Medical Card for Older People has dominated the airwaves and, indeed, the Parliament has been inundated with ‘phone calls and emails from Older People and their families on the matter. We are actively campaigning to seek the withdrawal by Government of this draconian measure which will have such an adverse affect on the lives of Older People and their families.
Each and every one of your organisations can play a vital role in seeking to retain the Medical Card for Older People by lobbying all your local representatives especially those from the Government Parties i.e. Fianna Fáil, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and the Independents who support the government. Make your opposition known to the opposition as well. Ask all of them to work to have the decision reversed by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Health and Children and the Government.
The Older People of Ireland did not create the situation whereby the delivery of Medical Card services for Older People costs four times more at €640.00 per person. Older People must be relieved of the fear and stress caused by this proposal. The facts and figures which have emerged are truly staggering. Older People for a long time have been classed as high rollers and people on vast incomes who were in possession of a Medical Card. We have seen that this has not been the case and that the majority of Older People are on very low incomes as shown by the fact that ⅔ of them already had a Medical Card before they reached age 70.
You, the members, are critical to the success of this campaign. You must go to your local representatives and ask them to have this measure withdrawn. This issue is so vital for Older People. We must not be seen as ‘easy targets’.
In the period since the over 70s Medical Card has been in place there was ample time to negotiate proper arrangements with regard to its delivery. It seems strange that rather than tackling that issue the Government is now tackling the recipients most of whom are ringing our offices in fear and dread.
Get out there! Get working! Get talking to your local politicians and demand that this be withdrawn.
Yours sincerely,
Máiréad Hayes
Chief Executive Officer
Observations on the Green Paper on Pensions by the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament
The Parliament through the work of its Pensions Committee, meetings with members and workshops at the Annual Parliament Meeting consulted widely and examined the proposals in the Green Paper in some depth.
Among our main recommendations are:
- A call for a new pension system that guarantees an income adequate to meet all the needs of pensioners
- A pension which would be an income replacement not a minimum anti-poverty measure.
- A 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.
- Reforms that would enable all Older People who need it to qualify for the State non-contributory pension.
- The Homemakers’ Scheme to be backdated to allow Older Women to receive a full pension in their own right.
- Women with inadequate contribution records to be provided with a pension in recognition of their contribution to the economy and society.
- A total contributions approach to qualifying for a pension where every contribution made can be used to fund pensions and should be redeemable regardless of when or how the contribution was made.
- Anomalies such as Class D and Qualified Adult Allowances, we suggest might be dealt with by agreements such as the SCOPE model agreed under the “Towards 2016” Social Partnership Agreement by the IFA, DSFA and Revenue.
- Pensions to be paid at 65 and the Transition pension to be abolished.
- That the Living Alone Allowance should be increased annually in line with inflation.
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