Vol. 510 No. 6
247 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation in order to offer older people the same level of legislative protection as children in view of the fact older people are vulnerable members of society who need legislation underpinning their position particularly. [23362/99]
I have no plans to introduce legislation along the lines suggested by the Deputy.
The National Council on Ageing and Older People in its report entitled "The Law and Older People" published in 1998 stated that older people, as a group, cannot and should not be regarded as being in need of care in the same way as children. It concluded that child care legislation is not necessarily a suitable model of care for older vulnerable people.
A range of legal measures exist to protect people, including older persons, from abuse and to provide redress where abuse has occurred. These include the criminal law, domestic violence legislation, civil actions for damages in respect of injuries suffered and injunctive relief.
Having regard to increasing concerns about the problem of elder abuse, I recently established a working group to provide expert advice on policy, procedures and guidelines on elder abuse in this country. The remit of the group includes examining the need for appropriate legislative changes to deal with elder abuse. I expect to receive the group's report next year.
