Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Indeed. Ageism puts a tag on a person whose qualities do not bear witness to that tag. Some people may wish to put their feet up at a certain age. Not everyone has to run the marathon and if they wish to go on a cruise, that is fine. Putting someone in a corner because of his or her age and saying "stay there dear" is a ridiculous policy. It is better to confront people who attempt this and to argue that wisdom, knowledge and experience have a price tag, one which enables people to progress. When life expectancy was only 70 perhaps it was a good idea to put up one's feet at 65. Life expectancy is much greater now and people are in the 80s when they hang up their boots.

Keeping one's mind and body active keeps one in better shape. When my mother, God rests her soul, was 84 she played bridge five nights a week until the week before she died. She had represented Ireland in bridge 50 years earlier. She was capable of calculating the hands, the suits, the points she had and the necessary bids to make until the week before she died in hospital. She also lived on her own and was glad to return home on Sundays after we took her out. Her mind was sharp, which is a blessing because acuity of mind is of great importance.

Being in one's home is a great blessing. Nursing homes bring to mind people getting up, getting dressed and sitting in a corner all day, gazing out the window with no stimulation. Some people have medical difficulties and must be cared for in nursing homes but old people are better off if they can be cared for in their own homes.

We must focus on people's attitudes when debating this issue. Not intending any offence to Senator Bradford, the idea that youth is the repository of all that is good in life is quite ridiculous. Youth has vim and freshness but not experience, which allows one to stay the course and be active.

Many in the media do not understand that one should not espouse ageism. Joe Duffy did not mean any harm but another chat show host, who presents "The Late Late Show", interviewed me when I lost the last election. He told me, with relish, that he expected me to be finished with politics. When I asked why he referred to my age. I asked if he had spoken to Mr. Brian Farrell recently, who was ten years older than me but was still capable of grilling people with his piercing eyes on television programmes. Mr. Gay Byrne, who is 72, was interviewed by the same chat show host last week. Was Mr. Gay Byrne asked if he was too old for his new job? Not at all. Mr. Gay Byrne had the audience in the palm of his hands within minutes and won the encounter. Unconsciously, those in the media engage in ageism.

Ageism must be combatted in terms of services but also in the way we regard older people. We do not want patronage and we do not want "hello dear". We are adults like everyone else.