Age Action has warned that the Towards 2016 social partnership agreement is not just a national wage agreement, and that its social policy elements must be progressed as a matter of urgency.

“We are concerned about the continuing poverty among older people and the increasing inequality they experience,” Age Action chief executive Robin Webster said before attending the plenary meeting of the partnership talks today. “We are not only worried about incomes, but also about access to services.”

In the revision of Towards 2016, Age Action wants the carers, disability and positive ageing strategies to be integrated into the partnership agreement.  “Economic and social development must go more hand in hand,” Mr Webster said.