Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and compliment her on her tremendous work. One regularly reads newspaper stories about her activities. I congratulate her on meeting my expectations.

I will discuss the Fianna Fáil policy document, entitled "Acting Ageing and Quality Caring". Its publication two months ago coincided with the EU's selection of 2012 as the European year of active ageing and solidarity between generations. Europe's populations are ageing quickly as a result of low birth rates and increasing life expectancies. Here in Ireland, people are also living longer and have more years of healthy active living than previous generations enjoyed. As the lifespan of older people extends, the frailties and disabilities which affect them need a caring, effective response. As Ireland becomes a more urban society and more socially fragmented, social isolation and its many negative impacts on older people need to be recognised and countered. Only last week we saw the tragic case of two gentlemen in their 80s in Williamstown in north Galway who were beaten up and robbed. One of them even suffered a stroke after confronting the robbers and is still in hospital in Ballinasloe. What kind of a society are we living in? This should never happen. Those living in isolation need to have instant contact with the Garda Síochána.

Today, a woman who reaches the age of 65 years has an average life expectancy of 20 further years while a man can anticipate 17 additional years of life. We have an ever growing number of older people in our midst. They are projected to double in number from some 500,000 today to 1 million in less than 20 years according to EUROSTAT data and projections for 2030. The majority of older people who reach the age of 65 years can look forward to many years of healthy, active ageing. Public policy must respond to this extension of active ageing in the workplace and the community. As the lifespan of older people extends into years not experienced by previous generations, a minority are affected by illness and disabilities associated with ageing which require special care. Most can remain at home given proper support. It should be the overriding objective of public policy to ensure the supports available - family, State, voluntary, community - can help them to stay in their own homes. Does anyone wish to end up in a nursing home? It reflects badly on society that so many people are in nursing homes. In the past families looked after older members who gave their experience and wisdom to the younger members. The new nursing home arrangements for care of the elderly are a significant sociological change that is not good.

It is time to recognise the potential of our ageing population to contribute to and enrich our society in many diverse ways given their talents, experience and wisdom and the many years of healthy life expectancy which most can enjoy. Equally, their human rights as citizens must be affirmed and the many forms of discrimination on grounds of age against them exposed and eliminated. The policies set out in this document are founded on these two principles. Fianna Fáil will introduce legislation to ban mandatory retirement at 65 in the private and public sector. Making people retire at 65 is a denial of human rights. This mandatory retirement was introduced over 100 years ago by Bismarck when average life expectancy was 40 years of age. People should have the right to stay on in their jobs, if they so wish. It is a logical move. People who continue to work continue to pay tax and we already have a serious issue with pension funding. The UK and Northern Ireland have introduced legislation which allows people to stay on in work after 65. Like everything else, we are always slow to take on a new initiative.

I want to personally thank the Minister of State for all she is doing for Ireland.