Address by Dr Angela Kerins, Chairperson, The Equality Authority, at the Launch of Say No To Ageism Week 2009
Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to welcome you all here for the launch of this important national event. We are particularly honoured by the presence of the newly appointed Minister of State for Older People, Minister Áine Brady.
Minister, your presence here is very important at a time when the National Council for Ageing and Older People will shortly become an integral part of your Office. The Equality Authority looks forward to building on the positive relationship that we have enjoyed with the Council in the past, with your office in the future, and we wish you every success with your new role.
This national awareness raising week, now in its sixth year, is in partnership with the Equality Authority and the Health Service Executive, the National Council for Ageing and Older People, and of course we have huge support from the transport and hospitality sectors, including Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and Veolia, the Irish Hospitality Institute. We are reminding ourselves of the negativity that surrounds ageism in society and this week of activities is focussed on acknowledging and combating our own attitudes to ageism.
Over the past five years we have held public awareness and action-based initiatives at this time of year to stimulate and inform debate in order to draw attention to ageism in our society and in our culture. In the current recession, ageism is once again prevalent as older workers are pressurised to retire and as previously robust pension funds fail to provide the expected level of resources for our retired workers and their families.
The Government's commitment to this initiative is clear in Towards 2016, and this year we have been greatly challenged by the absence of resources to assist us in sending out our clear anti-ageist message. Thanks to the co-operation of all our partners, with assistance from Dublin City Council, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and our design company, Form, we have been extremely efficient in the re-use of design and images, accessed advertising sites and used our combined creativity to ensure that awareness of ageism stays on the national agenda.
I think this is a great example of us providing good value for money through cooperation, using resources effectively and being creative.
Tackling ageism in the workplace or in accessing goods and services is not necessarily a costly matter. It is about changing attitudes to our older people. The first attitude change is the responsibility of each one of us. Our campaign this year not only asks 'what is your attitude to ageism?' but offers the clear response: I Say No to Ageism.
Ageism can take the form of prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices or rules and policies at institutional or societal level that reinforce the negative stereotype. The Employment Equality Acts extend protection to older workers, even those over 65, from discrimination and harassment in employment. The Equal Status Acts protect older people from discrimination and harassment when accessing goods, facilities, education, accommodation and services.
During Say No To Ageism Week, we are inviting sectors, organisations and members of the community and voluntary sector to take positive action to promote a positive attitude to the value and respect we have for our older citizens. Failure to tackle ageism further detaches people from society and paves the way for us all to face the negative impact of ageism in our own future.
There are a wide range of simple but effective initiatives being undertaken throughout the country this week. Initiatives include a viral message campaign in the transport sector, the health sector and amongst trade unions where members will receive a message and a PDF of our poster for display.
Posters and badges are being made available to all the partners and public transport workers, health service workers will all be encouraged to wear a badge stating 'I Say No To Ageism not only this week but throughout the year. Stands promoting Say No To Ageism Week will be prominent in health service buildings throughout the week.
The Equality Authority's Public Information Centre will take calls from the public and the posters and booklet are available free of charge on our website. As Natasha Kinsella has said, The Irish Hospitality Institute will launch a new guide for this important sector on Ageism on Thursday, and the Health Service Executive will hold a seminar and events in NUI Galway this week to support the event.
This national campaign is a good example of what can be achieved when State actors pool their limited resources. The co-operation received in ensuring the continuance of this important initiative is appreciated and it has been heartening. I would like to thank all our partners and associates.
I encourage you and our colleagues in the media to use this week to highlight an issue whose removal can make a very positive difference to the quality of life of our older citizens.
Say No To Ageism is not just a week long activity - it must be at the core of the way we do business and provide services. This week reminds us of our responsibility to combat ageism in the workplace and in service provision throughout the year. I am very pleased to see the campaign flourish in stringent times and express the appreciation of the Equality Authority to all involved in such a progressive initiative.
Related articles:- Say No To Ageism Week - May 18th to 22nd 2009
Details of Say No To Ageism Week 2008
- 'Say No To Ageism' Week 2009 Launched Today
Press Release - 19 May 2009
