Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit arís go dtí an Teach. Ireland's ageing population presents us with an opportunity to introduce important social and economic initiatives. Spending on pensions, health and long-term care within the European Union is expected to increase by a factor of three by 2050. Europeans are important consumers with a combined wealth of more than €3,000 billion. Older Europeans, including Irish people, will be healthy and active and will participate in employment for longer, contributing their wisdom and experience to value creation.

With 13% of its current population over 65 years of age, my county of Louth is still a relatively young county. However, there is an urgency to be smart about ageing if we are to capitalise on emerging opportunities and leverage the county's leading position as the first age-friendly county in Ireland. As Senator Marie Moloney observed, Louth is part of the World Health Organisation's global age-friendly cities network. I am especially proud to point to it as an example for other counties, cities and towns wishing to adopt an age-friendly agenda. Louth has a plan for its older people which was developed with them, not for them.

People are living longer, with life expectancy increasing at two years per decade or five hours per day. The majority of children born in the developed world this year will live to 100 years of age. In fact, the first person is already born who will live to be 150. Older people represent a rapidly increasing percentage of our population, with the 60 plus demographic set to double in size from 11% today to 22% by 2036. Older people's needs and behaviours are changing fast and we must plan and provide for them.