Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The rise in the number of healthy older people in Ireland and around the globe constitutes a major social and scientific advance, perhaps the most significant in the past century. In 1900 average life expectancy for a woman was 49 years. Today it is 81.6 years, an increase of 32.6 years, a phenomenal social and scientific advance that is constantly ignored. Older and Bolder, an organisation which represents eight non-governmental organisations in the ageism sector, invited gerontologist Professor Desmond O'Neill to prepare a paper on work and ageing in the context of its analysis of the national pensions framework. Yesterday, in Buswells Hotel, Professor O'Neill launched his document, Ageing, the Demographic Dividend and Work. Professor O'Neill found that it is increasingly clear that older workers represent an important resource for industry, public services and the economy but the framework for developing workplaces and policies supportive of working later in life in Ireland leaves much room for improvement. Older and Bolder——