Age Action Ireland has published a pre-Budget 2002 list of proposals for the interests of older people.

On income and pensions, the organisation asks that the State pension should be linked to average industrial earnings, as recommended by the Pension Board, and be set at 34 per cent next year.

The pre-budget submission also states that all women should have a pension in their own right at the level of the non-contributory pension and calls for the Qualified Adult Allowance to be abolished.

Age Action recommends the introduction of a retirement decade from 60 to 70 years, rather than a rigid retirement age. It also says the Employment Equality Act should be amended to abolish the current upper age limit of 65 years so that workers of all ages come under the protection of the Act.