Madam, – In both good times and bad times, there are societal values that we do well to assert, notably the importance of effective systems of education, health and social protection. It is not in the interests of our society for citizens to watch in silence as core social services and protections are eroded in the course of continuing efforts to bail out the banks.
Older Bolder agrees with your correspondent (David Walsh, December 3rd) that we need to avoid “an old versus young divide”. Our campaign for a long-term commitment to a fair and secure state pension system for all, now and in the future, is intergenerational and champions the needs of those currently of working age for pension security. Indeed, large numbers of both young and old have signed our petition to defend the state pension and associated supports.
Some 88 per cent of older people are at risk of poverty before they receive social supports (ie state pension, fuel allowance, and household benefits package).
Older Bolder is concerned about the implications of Budget 2011 and a pension freeze for those older people who are at risk of poverty and highly reliant on the public health system. The expression of concern about the needs of one group in society does not reduce the space for others to speak or to present a case to decision-makers. On the contrary, it reminds us that the need for a myriad of civil society voices, speaking in opposition to the destruction of core systems of social security, has never been greater than it is now in Ireland. – Yours, etc,