INVITATION TO JOIN US AT EU HOUSE

IRISH SENIOR CITIZENS PARLIAMENT INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ON FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2012 AT 12.30 PM  Please support this support EUROPEAN YEAR 2012 Event
	Europe Day 2012 Invitation   European Movement Ireland are delighted to invite you to an event marking Europe Day 2012 Venue ; European Commission Representation,  EU House,18 Dawson Street,Dublin2  Date Friday, 11 May 2012 at 12.30pm  Noelle O’Connell, Executive Director of EM Ireland will chair a discussion marking Europe Day 2012  and the European Year of Intergenerational Solidarity and Active Aging.  Presentations on the day from CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Máiréad Hayes; PRO of the European Youth ParliamentIreland, Adrian Clarke, Margaret Fitzpatrick from Age Action Ireland will provide diverse insights and intergenerational perspectives on life in the European Union.  All are very welcome to attend this free event.  We look forward to seeing you there.  Please RSVP to confirm your attendance at this Europe Week event: T: +353 1 662 5815   E: events@europeanmovement.ie

 

CELEBRATE EUROPE DAY HAVE FUN

HOT OFF THE PRESS

8 May 2012

Europe Day 9 May: Celebrating the older generation

Tomorrow, 9 May, is Europe Day and this year it’s all about the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between the Generations. The celebrations kick off with a flash mob of older and younger people dancing together to music from a live swing band in Grafton Street in front of Bewley’s Cafe at 11am. Young musicians playing the songs of older generations, putting their own twist to it ; the silver generation dancing in formation with young people…  this year’s Europe Day celebrates the concept of Active Aging and Solidarity between Generations by turning stereotypes on their heads.

Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission’s Representation inIrelandsaid: ”By challenging the stereotypes which lead to discrimination against older people, older people themselves are also challenged to redefine their own roles. The fact of the matter is that the older people in our society are a valuable but often untapped resource.”

Celebrations go on with a free open doors event in European Union House in 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton T.D., will open the event around 12 noon. Members of more than 20 voluntary and public bodies involved inIreland ‘s year of Active Ageing will attend. Live music will be provided by The Swing Cats and snacks from EU Member State embassy kitchens will be served until 2.30pm.

For more Information regarding the European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity Between the Generations in Irelandsee:

http://www.activeageing.ie/

Steffen Schulz  European Union House

18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2
tel: 00 353 (0) 1 634 11 18
mobile: 00 353 (0) 87 656 79 71
internet: www.euireland.ie

MEDIA RELEASE

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament views with alarm the reports that there are plans in train to make further cuts to the living standards of Older People.

Older people have seen serious reductions in the value of the spending power of their pensions. Daily they are being confronted by increases, reduced services and additional charges. Serious cuts in household benefits and the removal of the additional payment at Christmas are biting deeply.

With the sweep of a pen the Minister for Social Protection has determined that those about to go on pension effective September 2012 will see cuts to their payments ranging from €18.80-29.80 with follow on reductions in payments for dependents.  There was no warning for these people and no opportunity to continue to work for most of them.

Callers tell us that in their view what is happening to pensioners or those about to become pensioners is in stark contrast to what they see as the manner in which those who recklessly endangered the State were and continue to be dealt with.

3^rd March 2012

For further information please contact 01 8561243 

What did we learn? Are we wiser ?

 

Revenue meeting with ISCP 9th January 

 Representative of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament met with two officials from the Revenue Commissioners today at 9.15am. There was a full and frank exchange regarding the crass  way in which Revenue had handled this whole matter.

Revenue did not provide us with the level of detail we had hoped to receive in relation to their surety that the people who received letters owed money. Indeed we urge that they must be more forthcoming at the meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on 11th January. It is the right of every older person and their families to be proactively be told what the situation is.

Many of the case studies which have been advised of were raised with Revenue. There was an acceptance that in a large number of cases there will be no monies due, and where some monies are due the amounts are very small and that the abolition of the bin charges exemptions is a factor.  Indeed there has been an admissions that people who are “Exempt” got letters .

In relation to people who were bereaved in 2011 we were told that a letter was sent to anyone who received a payment in 2011 even if that payment had ceased in 2011 and a bereavement grant had been paid.  We feel this display a lack of sensitivity.

We got clarification that of the 562,000 persons in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments in the specified categories, letters were only sent to those who are liable to pay tax under the PAYE system Form 12.

There are some 100,000 persons in receipt of DSP payments who fall into the category of self assessment and who complete Form 11.

Following the meeting with Revenue a report was given to our National Executive who met today to consider the matter. It was agreed that we will continue to monitor and await the outcome of the Oireachtas Committee meeting scheduled for tomorrow Wednesday 11^th January 2012.

Mairead Hayes

Re Letters from Revenue Commissioners

Special Message to all who received letters from Revenue regarding State Pensions

Please help us to assist you all

 Many of you are ringing us and giving us details of your situation. We cannot handle the volume of calls we are receiving.

To assist us, we ask you to log onto our website and tell us your story or send us a note in the post with your details at the above address. You can email to info@seniors.ie or to Dolores@seniors.ie  or add a comment to this message.

We really appreciate your understanding and co-operation in this matter.

While we are aware that many of you are worried and concerned we urge you not to ignore it and to ring Revenue and find out your exact position. From the calls we have received many of the people who have got letters do not owe any money and some may owe very small sums. Either way it will be worked out and will be resolved.

The main advice is not to panic, to seek advice either from family or a person you trust.

We have been contacted by many people who told us, that when they finally managed to contact Revenue, that, the Commissioners accepted the fact  that their State Pension had been reported to them. In one case Revenue were able to give chapter and verse of the many contacts with the pensioner.

We are meeting Revenue this week and would appreciate hearing from you about your case. So far we have not had many contacts from people who owe money.

8^th January 2012

ends

 Contact: Mairead Hayes   Email: ceo@seniors.ie

Nollaig shona / Happy Christmas

BUDGET 2012 CHANGES TO CONTRIBUTORY PENSION

 MEDIA STATEMENT

 

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament welcomes the fact that in Budget 2012 Pensions in payment were maintained at their current rate. However the Parliament is concerned that many members  who are due to receive their pension from September 2012 will be affected by these proposed changes to the contributory rates listed below.

We urge the Minister to consider a more gradual approach to these changes. We also urge all those people who have been in touch with us to make their views and individual concerns/ situations known to the Minister and their elected representatives.

BUDGET 2012 PROPOSED CHANGES State Contributory Pension

Average PRSI Contributions per Year	Previous Payment	Proposed Payment	Difference
48 or more 40-47 ** 30-39** 20-29** 15-19 10-14	230.30225.80 225.80 225.80 172.70 115.20	230.30225.80 207 196 150 92	Nil Nil 18.80 29.80 22.70 23.20

**Previously this referred to 20-47 contributions

Qualified Adult: at this time we do not have figures

These changes require legislation and are not yet in affect.

 ENDS

 

For further information please contact

Mairead Hayes 086 349 8848