Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I beg the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's indulgence in the context of allowing me to welcome a group of ladies to the House. They are members of the Fianna Fáil women's network, which includes many aspiring politicians. I hope the late hour we are sitting will not put them off deciding to venture into politics. They are more than welcome to Leinster House.

I very much thank the Deputy for raising this important matter and for giving me the opportunity to respond to the points raised. There is very little he said that I do not agree with. We are on the same page as regards this matter.

By 2041, one in five people in Ireland will be over 65 years of age. We have an ageing population, which is something to celebrate. We are all living longer, healthier lives. Older people have so much to contribute. We have the best life expectancy in Europe, at 82 years, notwithstanding the difficulties we have at times in accessing certain health supports. I always view older people as an opportunity; they are never a liability.

The Government is firmly committed to supporting healthy and positive ageing as well as ensuring measures will be put in place to meet both the challenges and opportunities associated with this shifting demographic. The programme for Government commits to the establishment of a commission on care that will "assess how we care for older people and examine alternatives to meet the diverse needs of our older citizens".

Last year preliminary desk research was undertaken within the Department of Health in preparation for the establishment of a commission on care. This year the commission will be further advanced as a priority. While the scope and the terms of reference of the commission have yet to be determined, it is envisaged that consideration of matters such as whether there is a need to establish an independent commissioner for ageing and older persons will fall within the commission's remit. Alternatively, I want serious consideration given to a possible ombudsman for older people, as Deputy Burke suggested. He also mentioned safeguarding, best practice, elimination of discrimination - all things on which we all agree.

The commission on care will be built on strong foundations. Over the past two decades there has been significant investment in establishing robust policies and strategies on positive ageing across Departments. We know that positive ageing requires a whole-of-government approach to address the range of social, economic and environmental factors that affect the lives of ageing citizens.

My Department has taken steps to ensure policies and strategies translate into meaningful outcomes, and strong partnerships have been forged with local authorities and organisation such as Age Friendly Ireland. Those partnerships have facilitated regular engagement with our diverse older citizens which allows us to hear their lived experience. Over the past ten years, 20,000 older people have participated in consultations throughout Ireland through town hall meetings, older persons' councils, round-table discussions, focus groups and workshops. I commend specifically the older persons' councils, which do fabulous work. This engagement has been invaluable as it has ensured awareness of the diverse and evolving needs of older people in communities throughout Ireland, whether urban or rural, younger or older, diverse ethnic groups, members of the Traveller community, older people with disabilities, LGBTI+ older people or other minorities.

I am fully committed to ensuring there is adequate and appropriate policy, legislation and services in place to support the diverse older cohort in Ireland. Being two and a half years into my role as Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy Burke might ask why I have not worked on this earlier. As he himself will know, however, through all the various conversations we have had and the challenges we have had with older people, the nursing home sector and daycare centres, that is where the focus is. My focus, however, has very much turned to this now and this particular cohort, and I look forward to progressing this as a matter of priority.

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