Age Action, The ICA and the NWCI hope that the Government live up to the agreed text of The Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights as agreed by the Council of Ministers of Employment, Social Policy and Consumer Affairs in Luxembourg on 23 October 2017.
This Proclamation includes a commitment to equality of pension rights; Principle No 15 states:
“a) Workers and the self-employed in retirement have the right to a pension commensurate to their contributions and ensuring an adequate income. Women and men shall have equal opportunities to acquire pension rights.
b) Everyone in old age has the right to resources that ensure living in dignity.”
The present Government is failing to achieve both goals in a variety of ways but particularly in relation to their refusal to tackle State Pension Inequities made worse by the changes introduced in 2012.
A good indication of their commitment to the Pillar would be the reversal of these changes in the forthcoming Finance Bill.
Signed by:
Marie O’Toole, John Church Orla O’Connor
National President ICA CEO Age Action Director NWCI