Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
166. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the development of a United Nations convention on the rights of older people; the input of the Government to date in respect of such a convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18977/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe international human rights framework exists to protect and promote the human rights of all people and its advancement is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland.
Ireland was among a number of countries, including all EU Member States, that co-sponsored the resolution on the rights of older persons, adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 September 2016. The resolution aims to contribute to substantive understanding of how human rights standards apply to older persons, and provides for consideration of the possible elaboration of a multilateral legal instrument on the rights of older people. The resolution also renewed the mandate of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, Ms. Rosa Kornfeld-Matte. The establishment of this new mandate in 2013 was supported by Ireland.
Older persons already enjoy a number of important protections within the existing international framework although we recognise there are some shortcomings in terms of implementation.
International obligations to older persons are implicit in the core human rights Treaties, including the two Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights.
Moreover, since 1982, the international community has explored the situation of older persons, including by the adoption of the 1991 United Nations Principles for Older Persons and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing in 2002. The third review of the Plan of Action is taking place this year and the UN Secretary General will present the report to the Commission for Social Development in 2018. Ireland submitted its report for the third review in February this year.
In addition, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, clearly identifies older people as an integral part of our population. Implementation of each of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals will contribute directly or indirectly to improve the lives of older people.
Accordingly, while Ireland is prepared to engage in discussions, in particular in the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing, on the case for a dedicated legal instrument for older people on its merits, efforts to strengthen the promotion and protection of the human rights of older people should include a focus on better implementing the existing international human rights framework which will, in turn, help to establish to what extent further measures might be required.
