Care of the Elderly
Mr. Gormley: By the middle of the century, it is projected that one quarter of the population will be aged 65 and over. This demographic trend presents challenges and opportunities for the State and for society. Ireland is in a good position to deal with these challenges and opportunities. As a relatively late developer in demographic terms, we can learn from experiences in other EU countries. Moreover, we can harness our recent economic development to help provide a future in which older persons are treated as equal citizens. This presents us with great challenges in regard to our health service and nursing homes. We have an ageing population. People are living longer. We now have the technology and the medicine in our hospitals to help people live longer. That takes extra money, but we should not deal with that in terms of equity release, which was referred to by previous speakers. The Government is again going down the Progressive Democrats neo-liberal line, allowing the party to dictate policy in this area. It is quite scandalous that the Government will force people—–
Mr. S. Power: The Deputy should wait until that is decided.
Mr. Gormley: I am hoping the Minister of State is listening to what we are saying, will take account of it and will not decide to take this route. It is heartless and ill-considered. The Government is clearly going to force people to sell their homes. This has repercussions not just for the older person but also for the children. So many people now can afford to buy a home in Ireland only if they get some money from their parents. Through the equity release process, that will all be gone. The Minister of State should think before going down that route. I know he is very good at keeping his finger on the pulse and probably realises equity release is not a particularly good idea.
Older persons make significant contributions to society - as citizens, as workers, paid and unpaid, as family members and as members of the wider community. ln their varied roles, and as individual human beings, older persons have rights. Successive Governments have failed to respect, protect, promote and fulfil these rights. Older persons have become increasingly marginalised and are not benefiting from the economic development they helped create.
Recognising demographic trends, and in response to the manner in which older persons’ affairs have been mishandled by successive Governments, the Green Party has adopted “Citizenship, Equality, Respect: A Policy on Ageing and Older Persons”. This document is an attempt to identify the needs of older persons and Ireland’s ageing society, and to make positive and innovative policy proposals to address those needs. The issues faced by older people are diverse, and this is reflected in the structure of this document. I cannot go into detail in the time allowed but will give some flavour, because it impacts on the role of the Minister of State in Government. The Green Party is calling for changes in the political system in order that opportunities for older persons are secured and their rights can be protected. We are looking first for a national positive ageing strategy. Successive governments have failed to deliver effective, joined-up, holistic policy or action on ageing and older persons. The Government should initiate the drafting of a national positive ageing strategy. This strategy should identify the responsibilities of each Department and agency and establish deadlines by which specific reforms should be achieved. The strategy’s targets should be integrated into the work plans of relevant Departments.
At the time of writing of this document, older people in Ireland are represented by “half” of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for services for older people and for health promotion. It is generally acknowledged that this has not produced satisfactory results for older people. The Green Party believes that older people would be better served by a Minister of State responsible solely for older persons’ affairs. This Minister of State should be given a greater role in co-ordinating Government policy in this area. His or her position should recognise that ageing is a growing issue for Ireland and that issues surrounding ageing and older persons’ needs are not simply health-related. To this end, the Minister of State should be placed at the Department of the Taoiseach, rather than the Department of Health and Children.
We would like to discuss these proposals in this House. The issue before us is undoubtedly one of the most important the House and society must face. I hope we will get the opportunity for a discussion at a later stage, particularly on Committee Stage. That is where we can tease out these important issues.