Remarks at a Senior Citizens Reception
Áras an Uachtaráin, 20th March 2012
Dia dhaoibh a chairde, is cúis mhór áthais dúinn fáilte a chur romhaibh go léir chuig
Áras an Uachtaráin inniu. It gives me great pleasure to see you all here today; I would like to warmly welcome each of you to what is mine and Sabina’s new home for the next almost seven years.
Today we have guests from all over Ireland - from Munster, we welcome the Tuesday Club in Carrigtwohill, the Men’s Den in Waterford and Our Lady of the Rosary Active Retirement Association in Limerick. It’s also good to see that the West is well represented – we have the Moycullen Active Retirement Association and Galway’s Ability West Active Aging Services who are celebrating their 50th anniversary. Comhghairdeachas ar an ócáid stairiúil sin. Congratulations to you! From the midlands, I would like to welcome the Rochfortbridge Active Retirement Group and from not too far away, we have the Newbridge Senior Citizens group. Thank you all very much for making the journey to share this afternoon with us.
I am making my remarks to you today in this the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 which, as you may be aware, was formally launched in Ireland last month.
This is a year for underlining and raising awareness of the value of active ageing in enabling people to live healthily and independently and to remain active participants in their communities as they grow older. It strives to promote greater collaboration and contact between young and old and to promote too activities that will help counter age discrimination and overcome age-related stereotypes, work that is so necessary in our society today.
The fact that our people are living longer is such a positive and when we look back from the early years of the 21st Century to those of the 20th century the comparison is remarkable. At that time the average life-expectancy in Ireland was in the region of fifty years, whereas today, it is almost 77 (76.8) for men and over 81 (81.6) for women. Another welcome and noteworthy feature of life in Ireland is that life expectancy now is rising faster here than in any other EU member state1.
At my Inauguration I spoke of an Irishness of which we could be proud, built on an inclusive Ireland with inter-generational solidarity. That Ireland is one which recognises and celebrates the enormous contributions that older people have made and continue to make towards our economy, community life, learning, literature, the arts – as workers, mentors, caregivers and volunteers; an Ireland that supports people in their efforts to be healthy, live independently and be full and active participants in their communities as they grow older.
That Ireland is one that ensures older people are not marginalised by ageist attitudes, stereotypes, prejudice or by actions that serve to limit expectations or the capacity to live in dignity and independence; that serves to dispel the nonsense advanced by some that people are of lesser value, less interesting or less attractive as they grow older.
Above all, a society ‘for all ages’ is one that acknowledges the interdependence of the generations, recognises that the needs of older people are fundamentally linked to the needs of others and that we must strive towards common goals if we are to function in the best interest of every generation. But that can only happen if the younger and older generations collaborate together to create and maintain the social structures that are both necessary and capable of responding to those needs. And that lesson has perhaps never had more importance because in times of crisis, in the times we live in today, times of transformative change, so much very necessary change, we need to ensure that we continue to value our citizens equally, to ensure that the vulnerable elements in our society whose voices are sometimes difficult to hear, are heard, are not forgotten.
There is a very fine seanfhocal in Irish that says, ‘Is ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’ which means that we all depend on each other. Groups such as the ones you are part of are the very lifeblood of so many communities throughout our country.
You help create a network where people can make new friends, pursue interesting activities and experience the kindness and goodwill and most importantly the support of others. We cannot possibly measure the value of such social interaction – it gives us a sense of belonging and opens up our world to new and fulfilling experiences and perspectives and opportunities. Through what each of your organisations do year in year out, you enhance the lives of many people, build strong and resourceful communities, change both the perspectives of many of our older people as to what they themselves can do in so many areas and likewise the perceptions of others. Your associations provide an important outlet for people and I thank you all for being involved in your own special way.
This afternoon, though, is about relaxing in the company of others in this historic house. Built as a hunting lodge in the mid 18th Century it then became the residence of the Viceroys under British rule and since 1938 the residence of all Presidents of Ireland, I being the ninth. It has therefore significance for all traditions on this island and I hope you will take the time to explore some of its many interesting features.
When I was Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht with responsibility, inter alia, for Heritage, I arranged for 15 hectares of land, approximately 35 acres, to be given from the Aras to Dublin Zoo which adjoins it, effectively doubling the size of the Zoo and allowing it to develop in ways it wasn’t previously possible to contemplate. It has been good to see how the Zoo has prospered and developed in those intervening 15 years or so.
On my own behalf and yours, I thank Lynda Lee, our talented singer, and accompanying pianist, Dearbhla Brosnan. I’d also like to thank our friends from Civil Defence and the Áras team who have worked hard to make this day enjoyable and memorable for you.
Go raibh maith agaibh go léir as bheith anseo linn inniu.
1 EU Commission Demography Report 2010, 2011