Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Given we have a longer life expectancy now, and the information the Minister of State gave us in this regard is welcome, we must be conscious that some people now carry on work until an older age than they did in the past, and rightly so. In fact, the classic example is the need to recruit people who have experience and are available to continue at work. These are all welcome.

There is, however, also the question regarding the fact that we might sometimes overlook the obvious in the course of all demands in front of us. For example, it is not so easy for older people who may have mobility issues to go shopping. I acknowledge that various types of assistance are available whereby they shop online, etc. Nonetheless, it is important that the various challenges older people are likely to meet be borne in mind.

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