Pensioners – Thousands rally against 'despicable' Budget cuts by Fine Gael/Labour

» Mark Moloney

Thousands of angry older people gathered on a cold and rainy October day to outline their disgust with Fine Gael and Labour's Budget measures

THOUSANDS of people protested on a cold and rainy day at the gates of Leinster House on Tuesday in opposition to Fine Gael/Labour Government Budget cuts targeting pensioners.

These cutbacks include:-

• The scrapping of the telephone allowance for pensioners;

• The lowering of the qualifying threshold for medical cards;

• The increase in the prescription charge to €2.50;

• The scrapping of the bereavement grant.

SIPTU National Retired Staff Council Chairperson Frank Gannon said:

“Budget 2014 delivered a substantial hit to older people in particular. Pensioners, those with a disability, carers, the sick and those living alone, will face increased hardship when the cuts in Budget 2014 are implemented."

The Labour Party came in for the most severe criticism from protesters, with many saying they feel betrayed by Labour who had promised to protect the most vulnerable.

Speaking to An Phoblacht at the protest, Sinn Féin Ballymun representative Noeleen Reilly described the targeting of the elderly by the Fine Gael and Labour Government as "despicable":

"It's great to see that our older people do not take such attacks lying down. The Government needs to do the decent thing and reverse these disgraceful cuts now."

• Sinn Féin representatives Brendan Ferron, Noeleen Reilly, Sarah Holland, Gaye Fagan and Natalie Treacy supporting the pensioners' protest