Government Commitment

Older & Bolder welcomes the Government’s commitment to ensure economic protection for older people

The Older & Bolder alliance has today (Monday, 10 October) welcomed the Government’s response to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Ireland’s Human Rights Record. Following on a recommendation from the Netherlands, the Irish Government agreed to ensure that future economic measures do not disproportionally impact upon the elderly.

Older & Bolder’s Director, Ms Patricia Conboy, commented:

“The Government, in its response to the UPR process on Thursday, has, this morning, accepted the Netherlands recommendation to ensure that economic measures do not disproportionally impact older people. Older & Bolder had prompted the Netherlands to make this particular recommendation, so we are especially pleased with the outcome.

“We know that older people are hoping that this commitment will carry through to the budget, in the form of state pensions and the free travel pass being safe-guarded.”

During the review process, the State accepted 62 of the recommendations, committed to examining further 49, by March 2012, and does not support 15 of the recommendations.