10 Feb 2015, 12:05
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will tomorrow hear from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) on a petition outlining the perceived unfairness of the raising of the State Pension age to 66.
10 February 2015
Union Official Fergus Whelan will respond to the issues raised by private citizen Henry Gaynor, who submitted a petition entitled \"Equality and fairness regarding the raising of the State Pension age to 66 and beyond.\"
Since 1 January 2014, the State Pension age increased to age 66, and is scheduled to increase to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD addressed the Committee in October 2013 in response to a number of petitions, including Mr Gaynor’s, which criticise the new measures.
Chairman of the Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD says: “Accounting for some 30 percent of all social welfare expenditure, the State Pension is a very important payment for individuals, families and communities nationwide. As a Committee, we hosted a constructive discussion last month with Henry Gaynor, an individual citizen, who has raised a number of issues in relation to recent changes in the pension age, and how he believes the changes unfairly impact on private sector workers in particular. We look forward to exploring the perspectives of ICTU on these changes to the State Pension age at tomorrow’s meeting. ”
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 11 February in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 at 4 pm. Public proceedings can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Get involved and access petitions website.
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Houses of the Oireachtas,
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Committee Membership
Deputies:
Richard Boyd-Barrett, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent
Seamus Kirk, Fianna Fáil
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Pádraig MacLochlainn (Chairman), Sinn Féin
Helen McEntee, Fine Gael
Michelle Mulherin, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan (Vice-Chair), Labour
Patrick O'Donovan, Fine Gael
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Sean Kenny, Labour
John Halligan, Independent
Jack Wall, Labour
Senators:
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin
Jimmy Harte, Labour
Tony Mulcahy, Fine Gael
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour
Ned O'Sullivan, Fianna Fáil