Pensioners still planning protest marches despite the climbdown
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Wednesday October 22 2008
SCORES of older people are expected to join another rally outside Leinster House today to protest at the changes in the eligibility for the over-70s despite yesterday's climbdown.
The rally to be staged at 12.30pm outside the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House is organised by the Irish Senior Citizen's Parliament. A spokesman said while they welcomed yesterday's changes they still objected to the abolition of automatic eligibility and the exclusion of up to 20,000 who already have the benefit.
Despite yesterday's u-turn, a protest march on the issue is still scheduled to go ahead in Limerick city this weekend. Phonsie Franklin (72) from Prospect, Limerick, who is organising Saturday's protest march described yesterday's amendment as a "con".
The protest, which organisers hope will attract thousands, is scheduled to begin at 2pm outside the Jesuit Church on O'Connell Street.
"At the outset, the Government wanted to save €100m, but only 5pc of people are losing their medical card. The Government are only getting €5m. What the hell is this about?" Mr Franklin said.
"It just serves to allow the Government to con the people again. Next year, 20pc of people will lose their medical cards and the year after it will be 30pc," he said. "I think the only reason Cowen announced these changes was because the Government did not want to back down completely."
- Eilish O'Regan and Barry Duggan
