28 Márta 2012, 14:15
The Seanad Public Consultation Committee, in a report published today, called for wide-ranging amendments to existing legislation to bolster the rights of older people. It asks the Government to advance the case for drafting a new UN Treaty on the Rights of Older People.
The report calls for clarity of available entitlements for older people is made and suggests that those entitlements be given a statutory footing. It also calls for amendments to mental capacity legislation to include for more relevant concepts of mental capacity and introduce a new system of guardianship.
Given that 37 per cent of older people live in areas with no rural public transport, the report recommends that a portion of the Department of Social Protection’s Free Travel Scheme budget be set aside to provide a rural taxi-voucher option.
The Committee, established last year to strengthen dialogue between the Seanad and public on a range of policy issues, invited submissions from relevant stakeholders on the Rights of Older People. Public hearings with senators on the floor of the Seanad followed comprehensive written submissions.
Chairman of the Committee Senator Denis O’Donovan says: “The report reflects the collective wisdom of leading experts in the area who contributed to the consultation, as well as key stakeholders.
“It is a timely report, given that in the next three decades, the number of people in Ireland over 65 is expected to double and indeed that 2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and International Solidarity Between Generations. The challenges inherent in this great change are numerous and require that urgent, dedicated planning commences now to ensure that older people are not pushed to the margins of society.
“The report offers concise, practical and achievable recommendations on the best approaches to bolstering the rights of our older citizens. We thank all contributors for their time in feeding into public policy in this area in a meaningful way. ”
Other recommendations of the Committee include:
• that HealthStat, the HSE’s performance information system, carries out an audit of all community care services for older people
• that a format be found to pay the Carers’ Allowance to those people who return to Ireland to take on the role of caring at home for a family member
• that the Health Act 2007 be amended to ensure that national quality standards are applied to private companies providing home-care packages
• that all patients receiving end-of-life care automatically are eligible for a medical card once the appropriate diagnosis is made.
Access the full report: link
Stakeholders that took part included:
Ms. Caroline Lynch, The Irish Hospice Foundation
Mr. Jim Keegan, The National Federation of Pensioners Association
Dr. Roger O’Sullivan, Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI)
Mr. John Dunne, The Carers Association
Mr. Eamon Timmins, Age Action Ireland
Dr. Amanda Phelan, Institute of Community Health Nursing
Ms. Patricia Conboy, Older and Bolder
Mr. Michael O’Halloran, Secretary of the Retired Workers, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Mr. Liam Doran, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation
Professor Gerard Quinn, NUI Galway
Dr Eilionoir Flynn, NUI Galway
Professor Rose Anne Kenny of Trinity College Dublin.
Professor Alan Barrett,Director of Research TILDA
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
F: +3531 618 4551
Members of the Committee:
Senator Denis O’Donovan, Cathaoirleach, Chairperson
Ivana Bacik,
Paul Bradford,
Paul Coghlan,
Maurice Cummins,
Mark Daly,
Lorraine Higgins,
Rónán Mullen,
Susan O’Keeffe,
Diarmuid Wilson,
Katherine Zappone