Woman in 60s pleads 'from heart'

State pension:The State pension should be set at 40 per cent of the average industrial wage and an ombudsman for older people should be introduced "immediately", politicians from the political parties - except Fianna Fáil - were told yesterday.

Each party was invited to send a representative to hear older people's concerns at a conference organised by the Older and Bolder campaign. Fianna Fáil sent its apologies saying "crossed wires" had led to a misunderstanding about who was to attend.

Among the demands voiced were: better public transport in rural areas; an end to ageism in the health service; that all nursing homes be run by the State and that equality legislation be strongly enforced. There were also calls for an ombudsman for older people and an immediate increase in the state pension to €300 per week.

One woman in her 60s, who did not wish to be named, stood up to say she wanted to make "a cry from the heart" as she did not know where to turn.

She was not affiliated to any organisation but when she heard of the conference on the radio yesterday she "had to drop everything and be here".

"My husband has been dead nine years. Things were OK until the Celtic Tiger took off and the price of everything went up. My pension is €188.60 a week.

"I don't want to sound like a begrudger because I'm not like that. I do have enough to eat but I feel I live in poverty and I don't know who to go to.

"In the winter I don't turn the heating on because I can't afford it. I sit in the evenings with a hot- water bottle.

"I have high cholesterol and the doctor told me to eat a low-fat diet, but a good diet is dear. I eat fish every second day and vegetables sometimes - they are a bit of a treat. I eat potatoes because I'd be starving. My bills are the most important thing."

She had "very kind friends" who gave her their second-hand clothes. "They bring me for drives and we go for coffee. But it's so embarrassing when you can't even afford to buy a round of coffee. I feel sad in myself because I can't even afford to buy a newspaper and I did like to keep abreast of things. I'm so grateful to have good friends and I try to see the positive, but it's no way to live. It gets me down."

Seán Ryan, TD, of the Labour Party described her situation as "an utter scandal". He committed his party to establishing an ombudsman for older people.

The event was also attended by the Green Party's Dublin Central candidate Patricia McKenna who said older people had been ignored by successive governments. Sinn Féin's candidate in Dublin South East, Cllr Daithí Doolan, Fine Gael's Dublin Central candidate Cllr Paschal Donohoe and Cllr Cait Keane of the Progressive Democrats were also at the launch.