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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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Budget 2009
PETER SANDS, TRUSTEE, MINISTER MARY HANAFIN, SYLVIA MEEHAN, PRESIDENT, MAIREAD HAYES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Risk Equalisation judgement
Parliament Urges Minister to Act quickly and decisively on the judgement
The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament welcomes the statement by the Minister for Health and Children reconfirming that
The Government’s Objective in health insurance has been that it should be affordable to older and sicker people. Intergenerational solidarity in health insurance has always received widespread public and political support.
We urge the Minister, the government and the Health Insurance Authority to set in train a process which will enable speedy action to be taken to support community rating and provide for a system of community rating to protect the old and the vulnerable.
Whilst we note that the Minister does not “envisage any “immediate decision on legislation” we would urge her not to long finger a resolution to this matter. Older People are already experiencing stress and huge anxiety in relation to health matters.
Are older people getting a fair deal?
30th January 2008 from 1pm -1.45pm in Buswell’s Hotel
The Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament invites you to join us for a Press Briefing on the issues which are important to Older People.
The time has come to let you know where we stand in relation to
A FAIR DEAL: THE NURSING HOME SUPPORT SCHEME, 2008.
The Fair Deal legislation is due to be put before the Dáil without adequate consultation with Older People.
As the Houses of the Oireachtas resume after the Christmas break it is timely that we take stock and look to the year ahead and what it holds for older people.
This is a time of reflection as Older People look to see how the December Budget impacts on their lives and what is in store for them in 2008.
We are two years in the Social Partnership Agreement Towards 2016 which as part of The Lifecycle Framework articulated in the VisionStatement for Older People that they be able to –
- “participate to the greatest extent possible in social and civic life”
- “have access to an income which is sufficient to sustain an acceptable standard of living “
- Have adequate support to enable them to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible
- Have access to good quality services in the community including health education transport housing and security
- Have access to a spectrum of care services stretching from support to for self care through support for family and informal carers to formal care in the home, the community or in residential settings
- Mindful ” such care services should ensure the person has opportunities for civic and social engagement at community level”
Please come to our press briefing in Buswell’s Hotel, at 1pm on January 30th to hear older people speak for themselves on these and other issues.
An Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament briefing paper on the fair deal will be circulated at the meeting.
Please contact Mairead Hayes, CEO on (01) 8561243 for press interviews.