Parties Urged To Support New Pension Equality And Fairness Motion

Ireland's political parties are being called on to support a new Pension Equality and Fairness motion.

The new proposal, which has been brought forward by Sinn Féin, will go before the Dáil next week.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Social Protection, John Brady TD, said the proposition was about correcting mistakes made by Fine Gael and Labour in Pension reforms made in 2012.

In addition, he urged all parties to support the motion "as the first step in tackling our pension system".

"This motion is about fairness for those who are obliged to retire at 65 years in accessing their State pension and equality for all women when they retire," he said.

"This motion is about correcting the mistakes made by Fine Gael and Labour in Pension reforms made in 2012. These reforms were made without any long term thinking or forward planning, with no adequate processes put in place alongside these reforms.

"The 2012 reforms were rammed through the Oireachtas and they were wrong. Sinn Féin opposed them then and we oppose them now.

"We have engaged with a number of organisations on this motion including, Age Action Ireland, The National Women’s Council of Ireland and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

"Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have talked the talk when it comes to Pensions; in fact, they have been talking about Pensions for years. The time for talking, the time for Green Papers, White Papers, studies and reports on Pensions is over, we need action."

(LM/CD)