New Passport Fee for Over 65's

OWN members have contacted the National Office over the last 2 months to voice their concern at the re-introduction of full passport fees (€80) for older people, (passport fees had been abolished in 2005). This will result in deterring older people from renewing their passports.

Many network members have expressed their anger as they had been promised by the opposition parties that should they get into office they would prioritise the protection of older people's rights yet within a 100 days under their leadership this was one of the first cuts made. In the current economic climate with so many people emigrating the impact of this decision has far more wide reaching consequences in terms of diminishing the family network