THE GOVERNMENT HAS been warned that the old age pension must be protected from cuts – or next month’s Budget may not be passed. The Green Party’s Mary White, who is Minister of State for Equality, said in a statement that she would be working with her partners in government to ensure “those least able to bear the strain are most protected”.

She said:

We know that people who now depend upon pensions are of a generation which made many sacrifices for their families and the country.

She reiterated her opposition to any cut to the pension scheme on Morning Ireland today.

Thousands of pensioners protested at the Dail two years ago when Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced he would means test the medical card system, and that decision was reversed. Fianna Fail backbenchers may be mindful of the unpopularity of the medical cards pronouncement. Chris Andrews, TD for Fianna Fail for told the Sunday Independent that:

If there is any cut to the OAPs, then the Budget won’t pass.

Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae also said they were opposed to cuts to the old age pension.

More than €4.5 billion is paid out by the Government every year to fund contributory, non-contributory and widows’ pensions.