Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber to deal with this matter. My request is that we establish a commissioner for ageing and older people. The role would very much be about safeguarding the interests of older people, advising the Government on matters relating to older people, promoting awareness, encouraging best practice, reviewing the adequacy of existing laws, eliminating discrimination, and promoting participation by older people in a way that we are not currently doing enough in this area.

When we look at the way the population is changing, there are currently 768,900 people over 65 years of age. That is a substantial increase from where it was. The 2011 census indicated that, at that time, 11.7% of the population was over 65. In the more recent census, the figure was 15.1%. By 2030, more than 1 million people here will be over 65 years of age. As a result, we need to make sure we made adequate provision to protect them. This has very much come home in the past few weeks as regards the way, going back over the past 25 years, people in nursing homes were dealt with and why it ended up in challenges through the courts in order to establish particular rights. A commissioner for older people would be extremely helpful in dealing with many of the challenges now facing us. Such a position has been established in Wales since 2006 and in Northern Ireland since 2011.

We have made changes in other areas. We have an Ombudsman for Children, for example, but we have not put the same level of protection in place for older people. A number of reports have been produced over the past number of years internationally and in Ireland. We now need to progress this matter, especially in the context of the changes that have taken place.

I previously raised the issue of not having a legislative process in place in the context of home care. I published a Private Members' Bill in respect of this matter more than 18 months ago. We also need to progress that. A commissioner for ageing and older people would be extremely helpful in promoting and protecting that demographic as the overall population of this country changes. It is said that by 2035 there will be more than 1.1 million people over the age of 65. The number of people over 85 is also increasing dramatically. Now more than ever, there is a need to establish the role to which I refer.

See this speech in context