Latest news with #TripleLock
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Liam Cunningham says Government is 'putting health of economy ahead of genocide'
Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham has accused the Irish Government of "putting the health of our economy ahead of a genocide". The Dubliner also slated the coalition's proposal to remove the Triple Lock, accusing it of "lying" to people about their reason for doing so. Mr Cunningham was speaking at the launch of People Before Profit's pamphlet called "No to War. Defend Irish Neutrality". He was involved in launching a flotilla from Sicily, Italy, in recent days that will sail to Gaza with aid deliveries. While many people thought he was on the flotilla, which is also supported by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, Mr Cunningham said that anybody who believed this was not paying enough attention, adding he realised it was "more heart-rending" if he was on the boat. He said that the Irish Navy should be with the flotilla to ensure it is not attacked on its way to Gaza to ensure that much-needed aid will be delivered. Mr Cunningham said: "They are doing the job that we are supposed to be doing, the people who are supposed to respect international law. "There should be a flotilla of Irish naval vessels standing up for our international law and treating international law with the respect it deserves, not this wonderful, disparate group of people who have got together to put their lives in danger because they're not being backed up. "There should be a European force circling that boat to ensure that they get there, because that is their legal responsibility." When asked if he was ashamed of the Irish Government's response to the war in Gaza, Mr Cunningham said it was putting national interests first. He continued: "I was asked in an interview, 'You're not worried about the socio-economic health of Ireland?' "We're comparing that to the dismemberment of children? We're putting a spreadsheet ahead of our international responsibilities? "We're putting the health of our economy ahead of a genocide? "Really, is that where we are? Is that where our humanity is? Let's have a look at the chequebook before we help the children? "I have no time for that and anybody that does has lost their humanity." The Government has proposed amending the so-called "Triple Lock" to remove the UN mandate to send Irish peacekeeping troops on missions abroad. Mr Cunningham said people must "fight tooth and nail" to protect it and the Government should "put it to the people". The Irish Government has argued that it needs to remove the UN part of the Triple Lock to prevent countries from having a veto on Irish troops being sent on missions. This includes, they argue, a Russian veto on a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Mr Cunningham said that this was a "lie" and that a UN General Assembly vote could allow the deployment of troops. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy also argued against the Government's reasoning, adding that if Russia vetoes a peacekeeping mission, "it means that there was not peace, there was not a ceasefire". "It means they're talking about sending troops on the ground to prosecute a war against Russia," he added.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Nearly 9 million people of State Pension age will pay tax on retirement income this year
The Personal Allowance will be frozen at £12,570 until April 2028. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 13 million people of State Pension age across the country. The current official age of retirement is 66 and set to rise to 67 between 2027 and 2028. The UK Government has confirmed that an estimated 8.51 million people of State Pension age paid income tax in the 2024/25 financial year and as the Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570 until the start of the 2027/28 tax year, more pensioners are set to pay tax on their retirement income. The UK Government has also confirmed it will honour the Triple Lock policy during this parliamentary term. However, this could see everyone on the full, New State Pension pushed over the tax threshold in just two years' time. Under the Triple Lock policy, the New and Basic State Pensions increase each year in-line with whichever is the highest between the average annual earnings growth from May to July, CPI in the year to September, or 2.5 per cent. It is aimed at preventing the value of the State Pensions being whittled away by cost of living pressures. The New and Basic State Pensions increased by 4.1 per cent in April, however, future forecasts from the Labour Government expect it to rise by 2.5 per cent over the next four financial years. Using these calculations, it puts the full New State Pension on track to be worth £12,578.80 in the 2027/28 financial year - £78.80 over the Personal Allowance. While the amount of State Pension to be taxed may seem relatively small - tax is only paid on the amount over the Personal Allowance - older people with other income streams could find themselves having to part with more cash to pay a tax bill - if it's not automatically deducted from private or workplace pensions through PAYE. Online guidance at on who might need to pay tax on their pension also includes a handy tool to calculate how much tax someone might need to pay, and the different ways this can be done. The latest State Pension Triple Lock predictions show the following projected annual increases: 2025/26 - 4.1%, the forecast was 4% 2026/27 - 2.5% 2027/28 - 2.5% 2028/29 - 2.5% 2029/30 - 2.5% State Pension payments 2025/26 Full New State Pension Weekly payment: £230.25 Four-weekly payment: £921 Annual amount: £11,973 Full Basic State Pension Weekly payment: £176.45 Four-weekly payment: £705.80 Annual amount: £9,175 Future new State Pension forecasts Under a 2.5 per cent increase, the full New State Pension will be worth: 2026/27 - £236 per week, £12,227.30 a year 2027/28 - £241.90 per week, £12,578.80 a year What is taxed Guidance on states: 'You pay tax if your total annual income adds up to more than your Personal Allowance. Find out about your Personal Allowance and Income Tax rates. Your total income could include: the State Pension you get - Basic or New State Pension Additional State Pension a private pension (workplace or personal) - you can take some of this tax-free earnings from employment or self-employment any taxable benefits you get any other income, such as money from investments, property or savings Check if you have to pay tax on your pension Before you can check, you will need to know: if you have a State Pension or a private pension how much State Pension and private pension income you will get this tax year (April 6 to April 5) the amount of any other taxable income you'll get this tax year (for example, from employment or state benefits) You cannot use this tool if you get: any foreign income Marriage Allowance Blind Person's Allowance Use this online tool at to check if you have to pay tax on your pension. The full guide to tax when you get a pension can be found on here.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Actor says Irish Navy should bring aid to Gaza
The "greatest argument for neutrality is the genocide going on right now in Gaza", actor Liam Cunningham has said. Mr Cunningham attended the launch of a small vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in Italy last Sunday. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg is part of the 12-person team onboard the Madleen. Mr Cunningham said it was never intended that he would be on the boat, given its small size, and said it was; "loaded with the stuff that the Tel Aviv regime will not allow into Gaza. So, it's got crutches, it's got antibiotics, baby formula, it's even got a 3D-printed prosthetic baby's arm." He said he believed a flotilla of Irish Naval vessels should be bringing aid to Gaza, given Ireland's obligations under International Law. "The Geneva Convention says that at the sight of a genocide, it is beholden to signatories to the Geneva Conventions to intervene." Under Article I of the Geneva Convention, which Ireland has ratified, there is an obligation to prevent and punish genocide where it occurs. Mr Cunningham was speaking at the launch of a pamphlet - 'Defending Irish Neutrality' - by People Before Profit. People Before Profit is calling on the public to attend a demonstration by the Irish Neutrality League on Saturday 14 June to save the Triple Lock. Dublin South West TD Paul Murphy said he believed the majority of Irish people did not want the dilution of neutrality, which he said would be caused by the removal of the Triple Lock. "I don't trust Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to send troops abroad wherever they want. I think the majority of people in this country don't [trust them]. I precisely want to tie their hands. I want to have a political straitjacket. I wanted to know in future that they will not be able to send troops abroad unless they are genuine peacekeeping missions. And that's what the Triple Lock guarantees, and that's what the Government is trying to get rid of." The Government wants to revise the Triple Lock so that the UN no longer has a role in mandating Irish troops to serve in overseas missions.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Why this Irish army veteran believes dismantling the Triple Lock is a bad idea
Former Irish Defence Forces member and peacekeeper turned activist Edward Horgan says the government is wrong to be pursuing current legislation As Israel's concentrated war on Gaza continues and public pressure mounts on the Irish government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, the future of Irish neutrality and the Triple Lock have also come into question. In March the government brought legislation to Cabinet to dismantle the Triple Lock which safeguards Irish neutrality by ensuring that the Irish Defence Forces are only deployed for missions that are widely accepted as legitimate and peaceful.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
New update on calls to increase State Pension to £427 each week to match minimum wage
More than 10,000 people have signed an online petition supporting calls to increase the State Pension to match the National Living Wage rate. More than 10,100 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to increase the New State Pension from £11,973 a year to £22,000, matching the annual income of someone working a 35-hour week on the National Living Wage. The petition is now entitled to a written response, most-likely from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The proposal put forward by Ken Marshall has been posted on the UK Government's Petitions Parliament website and would see all pensioners receive £427.35 each week - some £1,709 every four-week payment period - in-line with the 2025/26 National Living Wage rate of £12.21 per hour. The campaigner argues that the discrepancy between the State Pension and National Living Wage payments is 'distressing' and 'we must not allow our senior citizens, who have contributed so much to our society, to struggle through their sunset years'. Mr Marshall says that bringing the payments for 13 million pensioners into line with the National Living Wage is a 'matter of fairness and respect'. The 'pay pensioners the equivalent of the living wage of a 35 hour week ' petition has been posted on the Petitions Parliament website and states: 'The full rate of the New State Pension is now £11,973 a year, while the annual income derived from the National Living Wage for a 35-hour week will be above £22,000. We think there is a distressing discrepancy between these two figures. 'We must not allow our senior citizens, who have contributed so much to our society, to struggle through their sunset years. We consider that it is a matter of fairness and respect. We all deserve a decent life when we get old.' It concludes: 'We believe that all pensioners must receive the equivalent of the living wage at 35 hours a week as a minimum. This could ensure a better quality of life for our country's senior citizens and help ensure that no elderly person in our society has to face financial hardship.' At 100,000, the petition would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can view it in full here. National Minimum Wage rates 2025/26 The National Minimum Wage for people over 21 is now: £12.21 per hour £427.35 for a typical 35-hour working week £,709.40 every four-week pay period or £1,851.85 per month £22,222.20 over the 2025/26 financial year State Pension payment rates 2025/26 Full New State Pension Weekly payment: £230.25 Four-weekly payment: £921 Annual amount: £11,973 Full Basic State Pension Weekly payment: £176.45 Four-weekly payment: £705.80 Annual amount: £9,175 Future State Pension increases The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the next five years and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases: 2025/26 - 4.1% (the forecast was 4%) 2026/27 - 2.5% 2027/28 - 2.5% 2028/29 - 2.5% 2029/30 - 2.5% The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently rejected proposals in a similar petition calling for the State Pension to increase to £549 every week for every person over the age of 60. In a written response earlier this year, the DWP said that the UK Government 'has no plans to make State Pension available from the age of 60 or to increase State Pension to equal 48 hours of work a week at the National Living Wage'. The DWP response said that the UK Government is 'committed to supporting current and future generations of pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement' and highlighted Labour's commitment to the Triple Lock for the duration of this Parliament. The DWP continued: 'The State Pension and the National Living Wage have different purposes, and a direct comparison cannot be drawn. The National Living Wage is designed to protect low-income workers and provide an incentive to work. 'It is also worth noting that while State Pension is an entitlement based on a person's National Insurance record, it is legally a benefit. From the time of the 1946 National Insurance Act, which applied from the inception of the National Insurance scheme, retirement pension (latterly also known as State Pension), has always been classified in law as a 'benefit'.' DWP also explained how the New State Pension was introduced in 2016 to be a 'simpler, clearer, sustainable foundation for private saving, including workplace pensions supported through Automatic Enrolment'. DWP added: 'The introduction of Automatic Enrolment has both increased and equalised workplace pension participation rates between eligible men and women in the private sector. Together, the New State Pension and Automatic Enrolment provide a robust system for retirement provision for decades to come, with those on low incomes supported by Pension Credit which continues to provide a safety net.' The DWP also said there are no plans to bring the State Pension age back down to 60, explaining how it is a pay-as-you-go system funded by current taxpayers.
