Remarks at the launch of European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations
9th February 2012
Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are all familiar with the line from WB Yeats poem “Sailing to Byzantium” which stated ‘This is no country for old men’. Eighty years on, and attitudes to aging have, of course, changed considerably. In fact, even our very definition of age has been subtly altered, the line being repeatedly pushed back and back as more and more people live well into their eighties, nineties and even reach that landmark one hundredth birthday. People that our parents’ and grandparents’ generation would have considered quite elderly, we now consider to be merely middle aged and retirement is increasingly seen as a new beginning, rather than a quiet winding down and retreat from active and useful participation in society.
Mar sin féin tháinig an oiread sin aoiseachais chun solais sa Toghchán Uachtaránachta le gairid go raibh gá le ráitis ó dhá eagraíocht neamhrialtasach ar a laghad atá ag obair sa réimse seo.
Despite this positive development, debate about our ageing society still tends to centre around the problems of aging, the costs of supporting greater numbers of older people and the worrying shift in ratio between the working and the dependent members of our society. All of these are, of course, important issues and ones that need discussion. However, when taken in isolation and allowed to become the main focus of debate surrounding the elderly, they can perpetuate the idea that older people are a burden on society, a people whose useful contributory days are over and a people who must now sit back and become totally reliant on the munificence of others for their day to day existence.
Such misconceptions, negative attitudes and stereotyping can lead to the exclusion of older people, the perception that they no longer have anything to offer, the dismissal of their skills, knowledge and life experience, and the wasteful overlooking of the unique contribution they have to make to society and to their communities. It is when Feile na Bealtaine is being celebrated that one sees the creativity in groups, in nursing homes, communities and in their own homes.
When I was inaugurated last November as President of Ireland, I underlined the importance of working together to build an active and inclusive citizenship based on participation, equality and respect for all. I also stated that citizens of all ages would be invited to make their own imaginative and practical contribution to the shaping of our shared future.
This year, we, as a nation, have an opportunity to shine a light on the significant contributions that older people continue to make in society; a far reaching light that looks beyond the artificial barrier of working retirement age which so many people use to define a person’s usefulness to society. This year we can ensure that the light shines beyond the stereotypes and spotlights older people as consumers, mentors, caregivers, child-minders, volunteers, advisers, neighbours, advocates, artists and all the many important roles that they continue to play in society beyond their retirement from paid employment.
It is an opportunity to remember that our senior citizens are the generation that have seen it all before; the generation that made huge personal sacrifices to support and rear their families during previous difficult times; the generation that had the resilience to survive an economy that was far from optimal; and the far seeing generation who looked past the obstacles in order to ensure their children got the education and the opportunities that they themselves never had, recognising that a well educated population would be an important cornerstone of our future economic development. It is impossible, in fact, to overestimate the positive contribution that our senior citizens have made to Irish society and how much we can continue to reap from their experience, their character and their wisdom.
I am delighted to see that this important year focuses, not just on active aging, but also on the crucial issue of solidarity between generations. Society has changed a lot in recent decades; multi generational households are no longer a norm; a global economy means that geographic mobility has become a way of life for much of our working population; increased pressure on housing has seen first time buyers obliged to move to new areas, often far away from extended family. These and other factors have led to a segregation of generations, particularly in urban districts where many neighbourhoods are predominantly resided in by people of a similar age group. Such separation of one generation from another can lead to ill informed and negative stereotyping, suspicion, hostility and a breakdown of communication between the generations. A society divided on a generational basis is an unhealthy society.
By focussing on solidarity between the different age groups within our society, this year has the potential to develop and promote more cohesive communities where younger people can benefit from the knowledge, experience and wisdom of older people while elderly residents can remain connected to a modern and ever changing world. It also provides us with an opportunity to really consider the new demographic mix in our population and to consider initiatives and public policies that will lead to a mutually beneficial relationship between the generations.
Má chruthaítear feasacht phoiblí níos láidre maidir le páirtíocht daoine aosta, agus má thugtar spreagadh deiseanna páirtíochta eile a chur ar fáil, beidh an Bhliain Eorpach seo ina huirlis chumhachtach ag tabhairt dúshlán don léargas meathlaithe agus spleáchais atá bainteach le dul in aois. Níos tábhachtaí fós, is é is cuspóir leis an Bhliain lucht déanta beartas agus páirtithe leasmhara a spreagadh chun teacht ar spriocanna agus beart a dhéanamh chun aosú gníomhach mar aon le tuiscint agus comhoibriú a chur chun cinn idir na glúnta ionas gur féidir sa bhliain 2012 an reitric a shárú agus torthaí soiléara a chur ar fáil.
I would like to conclude by congratulating all of you who are working so hard to ensure that this Year can act as a springboard to articulate a vision for active ageing and inter generational cohesion that will guide planning and policy developments into the future.
This Vision should be bold and inspiring, celebrating ageing, valuing the contributions of all irrespective of age and encouraging people of all ages to work together and to think positively about growing older in Ireland. Achieving this Vision requires action by policy makers and by stakeholders which includes, of course, every citizen. I am convinced that if we act collectively we can ensure that the impacts of this European Year will be felt for years to come, and that its legacy will be a better country in which to be both young and to grow older, making Ireland an age friendly society for all.
I am delighted to now officially launch European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 in Ireland.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.