Age Action (Age Action)

Lobbying Organisation Age Action

Date published 21 Sep, 2017

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May, 2017 to 31 Aug, 2017

Specific Details Reform of the State Pension system

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. Backdating of the Homemakers' Scheme.

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? We urged people to sign our petition in support of our campaign, which is available online and in hard copy here: https://www.ageaction.ie/takeaction/reverse-2012-state-pension-cuts. Please note the submission has not been sent to any DPO yet.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Letters to Minister Regina Doherty dated 20 June and 26 July 2017

Meeting (1)

Meeting with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection on 4 May.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Senator Alice-Mary Higgins on 8 May to discuss reforms to the State Pension including the reversal of the changes introduced in 2012.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight on 17 May.

Email (1)

Email sent to Deputy Anne Rabbitte with a copy of our briefing paper on 24 May.

Email (11-20)

Copy of the Age Action pre budget submission emailed to members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection on 27 July and also furnished to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

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.

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

Willie O'Dea TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Gino Kenny TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Denise Mitchell TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Curran TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Brady TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Joe Carey TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Alice-Mary Higgins Senator (Seanad)

Catherine Ardagh Senator (Seanad)

David Cullinane TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Boyd Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Seán Barrett TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Tommy Broughan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Dara Calleary TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Lahart TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael McGrath TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Paul Phelan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Anne Rabbitte TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Michael Sheehan Councillor (Wexford County Council)