Senator Catherine Ardagh
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Senator Catherine Ardagh

Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson on Social Protection.

Local Senator urges people to check in on older people over Christmas

20/12/2016

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Fianna Fáil Senator and Seanad Group Leader, Catherine Ardagh has supported calls made by ALONE for people to check in on older people over the festive period.

ALONE is a charity that supports older people to age at home. The organisation has highlighted that many older people can feel isolated at Christmas time.

“Christmas can be a difficult time for many older people, and loneliness is one of the main issues that they face. Many older people think that by asking for help and support they are bothering people. Therefore it is so important that each and every one of us makes an extra effort to connect with older people in our community over the Christmas period.

“Many services that older people rely on, such as postal services, banking facilities and medical supports, are curtailed over the Christmas holidays. We all need to make the extra effort to check in on their neighbours, friends and family to make sure they have all they need to enjoy the Christmas holiday,” added Senator Ardagh.

“There are a number of ways that the public can help older people this Christmas and I encourage the public to call in to older people to say hello. It’s important that we make sure they have enough food, medication and comfort so that they can have a happy Christmas. It’s especially important that we make sure their houses are adequately heated as we are now approaching the height of the winter season.

“Social contact makes a huge difference to the lives of older people. Let’s all make the extra effort this Christmas to extend the warm hand of friendship to older people living in our communities.”

-ENDS-

Note: For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person in their community, ALONE can be contacted on 01-6791032.
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Senator Catherine Ardagh sends condolences to Berlin and calls for banks to remedy problems with tracker mortgage rate

20/12/2016

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Senator Catherine Ardagh on The Week in Politics

18/12/2016

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Senator Catherine Ardagh addresses the impasse in relation to the rent certainty legislation in hope that the matter will be resolved and tenants and landlords will receive certainty this side of Christmas

15/12/2016

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Senator Catherine Ardagh raises the issue of the INM Pension Dispute in the Seanad 

13/12/2016

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Lower Income families continue struggle to pay the bills – Ardagh

9/12/2016

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- CPI increases in basic goods and services -


Fianna Fáil Seanad Spokesperson on Social Protection, Senator Catherine Ardagh has said that many low income families have felt little or no recovery in their own personal economic circumstances. 

The latest CSO Consumer Price Index shows that low income families throughout Ireland are still struggling to afford essential goods and services.

Senator Ardagh commented, “While prices on average, as measured by the CPI, were 0.1% lower in November compared with November 2015, a more detailed analysis shows that the cost of several essential items rose considerably during the same period.”

“The CPI also revealed that local authority rents rose on average by 3.9%, while secondary education costs rose by 2.7% and with rail travel costs rising by a further 2.1%. In addition, essentials such as house and car insurance rose by 7.6% and 11.6 respectively.

“For families, up and down the country, they are essential goods and services,” said the Dublin 12 based Senator.

“The modest gains, which Fianna Fáil fought hard for, will be swallowed up by these increases in everyday, basic items. For thousands of low-income families, 2017 will be yet another year where they struggle to balance the books.”

“Ireland has some quite staggering poverty and deprivation statistics. 59% of lone parent households are currently experiencing deprivation while 8% of the population is living in consistent poverty.

“Many low income families have not felt or experienced any sort economic recovery; they are living hand to mouth on a weekly basis and are faced with ever increasing costs for essential goods and services. The Government must step up and do more,” concluded Ardagh.

-ENDS-

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Gender pension gap leading to serious financial hardship for women – Ardagh

8/12/2016

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- Just 16% of women receive full state pension -

Fianna Fáil Senator and Seanad Spokesperson for Social Protection has said that women are getting a raw deal under the current pensions system. Because many women take time out of their working lives to have children or care for loved ones they lose important credit contributions and fail to meet the threshold for the full State pension.

Speaking during this week’s Seanad debate on the Social Welfare Bill 2016, Senator Ardagh said, “This is a real and present inequality in Ireland. Lip service is given to this issue in committees, the Dáil and the Seanad but nothing has been done to remove this disparity.

“The current system structure has become a real problem and is creating substantial financial hardship for women nationwide. It is deeply unfair to penalise women who have taken time out of the workplace to raise children or care for family. We need to see the current antiquated system reviewed.

“A 2012 study by the European Institute for Gender Equality found that the pension pay gap between men and women amounted to almost €700 a month.  In fact only 16% of women receive the full State pension, and changes to the contributory thresholds, which determine how much people receive, have made the situation for women worse.

“As a result of these changes, the number of paid contributions needed to qualify for a State pension increased from 260 to 520. This effectively makes it more difficult for those without a full-time, long-term working history to qualify for the maximum weekly payment and it penalises women who took career breaks to have children.

“We must move towards a universal pension system which gives women and men equal access to a comprehensive pension guarantee and which provides a decent standard of living for all. I have tabled a number of amendments to the bill which I hope will effectively address this issue.

“The current State pension scheme must be reviewed and replaced with a system which ends discrimination against women”.

-ENDS-
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Senator Catherine Ardagh calls for sentencing laws in relation to gun crime to be updated and strengthened

8/12/2016

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Senator Catherine Ardagh comments on Social Welfare Bill 2016 

7/12/2016

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Senator Catherine Ardagh raises concern about staffless libraries and the potential closure of Crumlin Area Office 

6/12/2016

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