Sir, – Last Wednesday (January 25th), in Leinster House, the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs came together to call out ageism in Ireland. We outlined to the 39 TDs and Senators present why we need to take meaningful action to counteract ageism.
The most pressing need is the appointment of an independent commissioner for ageing and older people. The alliance believes that a commissioner would ensure that issues related to ageing are kept to the fore of policy and decision-making and that there is enhanced investment and accountability in programmes and services to combat ageism.
The event allowed the Alliance to launch our 2023 Report, Telling It Like It Is: Combatting Ageism.
The alliance was pleased with the strong turnout from across the political parties, but we know that we must act now to maintain the political momentum.
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The alliance consists of seven significant NGOs working in the age sector. We are committed to collaborative leadership and the pooling of our capacity and resources to combat ageism and to seek action on the specific issues that make older people’s lives more complicated than they need to be.
Ireland is a country that is ageing which means this is an issue in which we all have a stake. We encourage people of all ages to contact their elected representatives to let them know they support our call for the establishment of an independent commissioner for ageing and older people. – Yours, etc,
ÁINE BRADY,
Third Age;
ANDY HEFFERNAN,
The Alzheimer Society
of Ireland;
KAREN HORGAN,
Age & Opportunity;
MAUREEN KAVANAGH,
Active Retirement Ireland;
SEÁN MOYNIHAN,
Alone;
PAULA O’REILLY,
Irish Hospice Foundation,
SUE SHAW,
Irish Senior Citizens
Parliament,
Dublin 8.
