Older & Bolder has concerns over National Pensions Framework [03/03/10]

Responding to the launch of the National Pensions Framework today, the Older & Bolder alliance says that it recognises the need for pension reform but has some concerns regarding components of the announced proposals.

In reference to the announced changes to the pension qualifying age, Older & Bolder favours flexible and individual choice for older people in relation to work and retirement age. The National Pensions Framework does not safeguard this for older people. 

Older & Bolder’s Project Director, Patricia Conboy said, “The Government’s decision to change the pension qualifying age for older people makes no provision for individual choice and flexibility and the lead-in time for this major change is very short – for older people and for employers.”

Older & Bolder also has concerns about the implications of this change for older people at a time of increasing unemployment, when mandatory retirement ages remain in place and when ageism is a reported reality in many workplaces.

On the level of the State Pension, in contrast to the Government’s stated aim of maintaining the State Pension at 35% of Gross Average Industrial Earnings, Older & Bolder favours a minimum of 40 % which was previously recommended by the Pensions Board.

Ms Conboy said, “Older & Bolder will be analysing the proposals for a supplementary pension scheme and for auto enrolment in greater detail over the coming days. There has to be an immediate concern about the capacity of the private pension system to provide older people with secure and reliable pension income. With real losses of 37.5% in 2008, Irish private pensions were the worst performing in the 30 OECD countries.

“Older & Bolder advocates planning for population ageing underpinned by empirical evidence and values of equality, solidarity and respect for the rights and entitlements of all of our citizens – including the right to contribute to and benefit from an adequate system of social protection. This is the yardstick against which we will measure the Government’s proposals for development of supplementary pension provision over the coming days,” concluded Ms Conboy.

Older & Bolder is an alliance of seven non-governmental organisations in the ageing sector: Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers Association, Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the Senior Help Line. Older & Bolder’s vision is of an Ireland that affirms ageing and the rights of all older people, enabling everyone to live and die with confidence and dignity as equal, respected and involved members of society as we age.

For release: Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Issued by: Older and Bolder

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
David Gibney, Montague Communications, 01-8303116 or 087-7992480
Pat Montague, Montague Communications, 01-8303116 or 086-7914429