Election Commitments on Pensions Disappear Like Snow Off a Ditch
Aontú Leader & Meath-West TD Peadar Tóibín has condemned the potential breaking of another election promise as discussion to raise the pension age to 67 begin – contravening explicit election pledges by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
Tóibín: “For fear of losing considerable votes, both FF and FG rejected proposals to raise the pension age. Now – over 115 days since the general election – it would seem that FF and FG are using the economic impact of Covid-19 as a pretext and justification for their reneging on their election promise to raise the pension age. This exhibits the undeniable contempt of this government for the Irish people. Generations of working men and women, who have paid their taxes, contributed to society, and worked their fill, are now having the goalposts moved as they near retirement.”
“Successive governments in this country have looked to recoup economic losses at the expense of the rights and entitlements of our most vulnerable and hard-working. In 2008, to bail out the criminal corruption and damage inflicted by the banking sector, medical cards were attacked. Retirees did not cause the crisis but were nonetheless expected to bail out the offenders. Fast forward to today, this crisis is of no one’s making. Yet this government looks to make older men and women work for longer.”
“This marks yet another lie by this political cartel – another betrayal by party leaders. Those who have worked their entire lives and have helped to build the Ireland of today – do not deserve to have the rug pulled from beneath them by the very government that pledged it wouldn’t.”
