Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I say "well done" to Senator O'Donnell for bringing this excellent and relevant motion before the House this evening. It starts by stating "That Seanad Éireann notes the ratification by Ireland in 1999 of the United Nations Principles for Older Persons". While listening to the other speakers, I calculated that by the time I am 75 years old, there possibly will be in excess of 1 million people just like me who will be heading for 80. The Minister of State and I probably will be in a home together, having a chat about old times, but a tsunami will hit us in the form of the challenge as to how we will manage the needs and the dignity of older citizens.

As a mature and sophisticated worldwide web accelerates, evolving faster than anything people ever have experienced, the young and agile smartphone generation live in an instantly connected world. In comparison, the older generation gets left behind as their worlds become lonelier and disconnected. As we in Ireland strive to evolve into a sleek, efficient economy, over the past five years Members of the Oireachtas have cut the numbers of gardaí although, as Members have noted this evening, fear is one of the greatest enemies of older citizens who crave security and have the right to feel safe in their homes. Many local post offices have closed and telephone allowances have been cut. The giant supermarkets have closed many corner shops, thus culling the vital lines of human communications and friendships our elders love and need. I need not remind Members that loneliness is the greatest dread that cloaks older people. Rural public transport is pathetic in places and with online banking being the order of the day, the icing on the cake is the curse of modern technology, namely, the computerised answering service stating dial 1 for customer service, dial 2 for accounts-----