“Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?”
Alliance of Age Sector NGOs call for an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People
The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs, representing seven leading older persons organisations, is calling on all political parties to include a commitment in their manifestos, ahead of the next general election, to establish an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People and to relaunch the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013) with a strong implementation and monitoring plan and a ring-fenced budget.
As a member of The Alliance we support the findings of the report “Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?”, which is a hard-hitting review of Ireland’s policy commitments for ageing and older people.
The review sets out the extensive range of policy commitments relevant to our ageing population as described in key Government publications and provides a summary of the progress made in the various areas.
Furthermore, the review:
- Provides a ‘deep dive’ analysis of 17 thematic areas relevant to the lives of older people and an ageing population.
- Highlights 15 commitments made in respect of older people and rates the Government on its efforts in each of these areas.
- Illustrates how many of the commitments set out as part of the relevant policy frameworks have yet to be meaningfully advanced.
- Identifies the practical and evidence-based steps that can be taken to support more effective policy implementation relevant to our over-65 population.
Seán Moynihan, ALONE CEO on behalf of the Alliance said:
‘’There has been no shortage of policy statements relevant to ageing and older people, from as far back as 1968 through to the more recent, albeit now eleven-year-old, National Positive Ageing Strategy. Many of the commitments set out in these policy frameworks have yet to be meaningfully advanced or benefited from coordinated implementation. Much of the policy content though remains valid. We are calling on this current Government, and indeed all political parties heading into a new election cycle, to implement outstanding commitments and to support the establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People – an office holder who would act as a ‘champion’ with a cross-Departmental brief to prioritise older people’s issues.”
The Alliance of Age Sector is made up of seven leading older persons organisations who are working collaboratively to combat ageism and to seek action on the specific issues that make older people’s lives unnecessarily difficult.
Download the report ‘Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?‘
