A call for carers' allowances and old-age pensions to be increased by 10 per cent has been made by SIPTU's national equality officer, Ms Rosheen Callender. She has also warned the Government that the next budget must be poverty proofed along the lines proposed by the National Economic and Social Forum.
Speaking yesterday on the budget, Ms Callender was sending a strong signal from the State's largest union of what it considers to be the minimal requirements if the next budget is to comply with the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.