Actor, and former star in the RTÉ series Glenroe, Robert Carrickford, has described as an "absolute scandalous disgrace" any possible cut to the State pension in the forthcoming Budget.
Mr Carrickford, who played Stephen Brennan in the series, was speaking today at the start of a national campaign, by the Older and Bolder alliance, against any cut to pensions or supports for older people.
The alliance, which has among its seven members Active Retirement Ireland, the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the Senior Help Line, said there was "a deep sense of worry and insecurity about the future of the Old Age Pension and other supports".
Older and Bolder director, Patricia Conboy, said their fears were well-founded.
"Last year, without any warning, the Government cut back on the Medical Card for over 70s and earlier this year they imposed a two per cent cut in the income of those dependent on the State Pension, when they suspended this year's Christmas bonus.
"The McCarthy Report has called for a further 5 per cent cut in all welfare benefits - including the pension - and it proposed the discontinuation of the Rural Transport Scheme, as well as the imposition of a €5 fee on all GMS prescription products. It is no wonder that older people are anxious about their future."
Any cut to the State pension would be "critical" she said. The non-contributory pension is €219 per week while the contributory pension is €230 per week. A five per cent cut would mean a loss of €10.95 per week to the non-contributory and €11.50 per week to the contributory pension.
"All the research shows that those on the lowest incomes spend all their money on absolute necessities like heating, food and clothes. Their scope for saving anything for catastrophic events is almost nil.
"And its worth remembering the majority of pensioners have paid for their pensions in PRSI, while those who haven't paid PRSI are mainly women who were not able to work."
Mr Carrickford said he was "shocked and very annoyed that once again it's the older people who cannot afford it who are going to get hammered".
"They've already taken away the Christmas bonus and they are talking about taking more. It's absolutely outrageous."
He said he and his wife were totally dependent on the State pension and while they were "just about managing" he knew many who were "really struggling, especially older people living on their own".
The Older and Bolder campaign is calling on people to visit their TDs in the last week in November to lobby against cuts and to sign the petition on Olderandbolder.ie.
