Senior Citizens' Parliament takes place in Dublin

Pensions, medical cards and the proposed water charges are set to be hot topics of discussion at the Irish Senior Citizen's Parliament in Dublin later.

The gathering, which takes place in Liberty Hall, gives older people the chance to have their say on the issues that they believe affect them most in 2010.

President Mary McAleese is set to deliver an address the conference later this afternoon, in which she is expected to highlight the issue of intergenerational solidarity in the wake of the economic downturn.

CEO of the Irish Senior Citizens' Parliament Máiréad Hayes said that older people tend to help others ease the burden of the economic downturn.