Ms Bridget Sleap:

Rather than single out one country, we have seen that where, for example, older people's right to a pension has been realised with the introduction of non-contributory social pensions, this can have an incredible impact on the respect and value Deputy McGrath is talking about. There is evidence from South Africa, for example, which has a near-universal non-contributory pension, that this has had an impact on the way older people are respected. While very different from Ireland, that context also involves economic migration and the impact of HIV and AIDS in changing family structures. Traditional support systems are also changing. There is evidence that when older people's rights are respected, this can have an impact on the broader way we live together in society.