Sir, – The Minister of State for Finance, Brian Hayes (Front page Home News, September 15th), must be aware that some of the wealthiest pensioners in this country come from his own, and other parties’ political ranks. These ex-TDs have accumulated multiple pensions during their political careers – not to mention the financial benefits they are awarded when they lose office. Dare I mention also, the “wealthy pensioners” numbered amongst the retired bank officials, who will never be held accountable for the financial ruin of this country – which they were largely responsible.
The pensioners of my acquaintance are ordinary people who struggled to buy a house in the 1960s or 1970s and then managed with bare floors and furniture donations, gradually buying essential domestic equipment when they could afford it. These are the people who paid tax at a penal rate on modest incomes, who received half a crown or five shillings (in old money) as children’s allowance, who struggled to find the money to pay the rates every year. They were the same people who had to take the State to the Supreme Court to gain an equitable tax allowance for married couples.
If they feel they are “well off” now, it is because they did not benefit from the Celtic Tiger, they did not lose the run of themselves and buy apartments abroad, or have a grander lifestyle by taking out large bank loans or running up huge credit card debt – the final payment on their mortgage a joyful day for them.
At last they are free from financial anxiety, except, perhaps, that they will be able to continue to pay for their health insurance. And now, just when life should be good for them after all their years of hard work, many couples are having to support their children, who have lost jobs and homes through the profligacy of those other “wealthy pensioners”.
This is the first of many generations in this country whose children will be poorer than their parents and whose future looks so bleak, through no fault of their own or of their parents.
Mr Hayes’s words may well come back to haunt him – it’s a long road that has no turning. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I fear we are witnessing an unseasonal outbreak of Hayes Fever (HF).
Thankfully, this condition is confined to a small cohort of the population and is usually dormant for much longer periods. HF is frequently triggered by the presence in the atmosphere of the R-word – reshuffle. Symptoms include an urge to kite-fly with uncontrolled and regular streams of consciousness. Irritable vowel syndrome is ever present and reflux is frequent. High temperatures are evident where public officials do not hit targets, but no such symptoms exist in this cohort where the Government misses targets, erases targets, changes targets, performs U-turns and right-turns.
Your readers may be in a better position to suggest a cure and avoid the dreaded contagion. A periodic and private climb of Croagh Patrick, barefoot and in silence, may help. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I find myself in agreement with much of what Minister of State Brian Hayes has to say regarding some pensioners, despite being in that category myself. While my company pension has been frozen for several years now and the pension fund is severely underfunded, I accept that I could make more of a contribution given the state of the nation’s finances.
However, I am extremely annoyed that the Government, obviously driven by Fine Gael philosophy, has stated clearly that under no circumstances will income taxes be increased during its term of office. I fail to see the reason, except for pandering to their wealthy supporters. Given the perilous state of the budgetary situation, it is obvious to me that more tax should be extracted from the better-off in society, namely those earning in excess of €100,000 per annum. A third tier of tax for earnings in excess of this amount should be re-introduced, given the crisis. This action must be taken before any further steps are taken against those less well off.
I believe that, in the absence of such an initiative, rather than placing further impositions on those less well off, strong support for the current Government will be a thing of the past. God forbid that our future election options would be Sinn Féin, Independents or a resurrection of the party who ruined our country. Some choice! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Minister of State, Brian Hayes, is quoted as saying “But there are many elderly people who are well off and insofar as we can look at that issue in the budget, I’m sure the Minister for Social Protection will look at it”.
Why should the Minister for Social Protection look at it? The correct way to address social inequalities is through taxation which is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance and, I presume his junior, Mr Hayes. After all there are still many young and middle-aged citizens who are well off.
Why introduce extra penalties for being old or is this just another kite-flying exercise on the free travel or the already means-tested over 70s medical card? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The comments made by Minister for State Brian Hayes (Front page Home News, September 15th), are alarmingly at odds with the facts.
He states that the Irish political system must overcome its inability to countenance budgetary cutbacks affecting older people because “many of them are ‘very well off’.” The reality is highlighted by the EU-SILC data published earlier this year which shows that 45 per cent of older people have an income in the bottom 40 per cent of incomes in Ireland. In contrast, less than 5 per cent are on incomes in the top income decile (above €39,000). The reality is that 9.6 per cent of older people are at risk of poverty.
Mr Hayes’s comments that “lots of elder people told him they were ‘well off’ because they did not have mortgages” also suggest that he is unaware of the challenges which many older people experience. The needs of older people are different to other sections of society.
The fact that many do not have mortgages is a one-sided assessment of their situation. With 57 per cent of older people living with chronic illness and one third having a disability, health is a bigger issue for older people than for the general population. The recent HSE cuts to community-based services will have a greater impact on the quality of their lives than they will have on the greater population.
With just 40 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women aged over 80 holding a driving licence, the free travel scheme for older people provides a vital support to enable them to remain part of their communities. Weekend media reports that this may no longer be free is causing widespread anxiety for older people.
Energy and heat are also more important to older people, especially those who are house-bound and sick. Although Ireland has an excess winter death rate of over 2,000 deaths – most of them older people – the Government cut the free gas/electricity units for older people last September and then reduced the means-tested fuel allowance (for the poorest of older people) by six weeks in the budget. The recent electricity and gas price hikes will pose even greater challenges for older people.
Many older people do not have mortgages, but that does not mean life is a garden of roses for them. The Minister’s comments highlight the need for older people to contact their local TD ahead of the budget to inform them of the supports they need to remain living independently and with dignity at home. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – When Brian Hayes says “I’m talking about people here with multiple pensions . . .”, did he mean his present and former colleagues in Dáil Éireann, many of whom qualify for a teacher’s, TD’s, minister’s, taoiseach’s and/or EU commissioner’s pension. Several of these pensions (for TDs and Ministers) commenced once they were thrown out by the voters: ie well before age 65 (the age for normal occupational pensions) or 68 (when I may qualify for the contributory State pension). If he was not focusing on this group, perhaps he should focus on them now, before the voters select him for the Dáil’s generous redundancy package. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Could I remind Minister of State, Brian Hayes, that we people in our 80s paid for our houses when rates of 35-65 per cent were charged on taxable income; that we paid for our children’s third- level education and that we looked after our elderly at home! Be fair, back off. – Yours, etc,