Age Action (Age Action)

Lobbying Organisation Age Action

Date published 09 Jan, 2018

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Sep, 2017 to 31 Dec, 2017

Specific Details Reform of the State Pension

Intended results Reversal of changes to the State Pension system in 2012 that introduced a number of new qualifying bands and resulted in greatly reduced pensions for many older people. Extend the Homemakers’ Scheme to cover years of caring prior to 1994.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Justin Moran

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? To sign a petition calling for the reversal of the 2012 State Pension changes and the backdating of the homemaker's scheme.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All TDs Emailed all TDs a briefing paper setting out the reasons for reversing the 2012 changes introduced to the State Pension system ahead of a Dáil debate on the subject.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Correspondence in October to Minister Regina Doherty TD accompanying delivery of a petition calling on the Government to reverse the 2012 State Pension changes and to backdate the homemaker's scheme. Also a letter to Minister Regina Doherty TD in December urging for the changes to be reversed.

Email (11-20)

Emails to TDs representing the constituencies of Kerry, Wexford, Mayo and Tipperary regarding the petition calling on the Government to reverse the 2012 State Pension changes and to backdate the homemaker's scheme.

Meeting (2-5)

These included meetings with TDs in September in advance of the announcement of Budget 2018 and a bilateral meeting in November between the Department of Employment and Social Protection and the Community & Voluntary Pillar.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Michael Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Danny Healy-Rae TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Griffin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Martin Ferris TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brassil TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Lowry TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mattie McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Jackie Cahill TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Séamus Healy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alan Kelly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Enda Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Ring TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Lisa Chambers TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Brendan Howlin TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mick Wallace TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

James Browne TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Paul Kehoe TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael W. D'Arcy TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Regina Doherty Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)

Mary Butler TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dessie Ellis TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Kathleen Stack Assistant Secretary (Department of Social Protection)

Anne Vaughan Deputy Secretary (Department of Social Protection)