Press Releases

Ipsos MRBI Poll reveals:

‘85% of all adults want to live in their own homes when they are growing older’

The director of Older & Bolder Patricia Conboy said today that the poll results (please see below) confirm that the majority of adults of all ages would prefer to age in their own homes. Ms Conboy said, “As Older & Bolder prepares for its national year-long campaign, ‘Make Home Work – the Right to Age Well at Home’ I am heartened by this poll result : people are clearly showing an awareness of  the value of a wide range of community services...

The Older & Bolder alliance has today (Monday, 10 October) welcomed the Government’s response to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Ireland’s Human Rights Record. Following on a recommendation from the Netherlands, the Irish Government agreed to ensure that future economic measures do not disproportionally impact upon the elderly.

Older & Bolder’s Director, Ms Patricia Conboy, commented:

“The Government, in its response to the UPR process on Thursday, has, this morning, accepted the Netherlands recommendation to ensure that economic measures...

The alliance has said that the key factors to be considered in assessing candidates’ suitability for the Presidency should be their character, track record, judgement and vision for the role of President.   

The Older & Bolder alliance today expressed its surprise and concern that the Government has announced cuts to fuel, electricity and phone allowances in the absence of the appropriate and promised planning framework, the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Older & Bolder’s Director, Patricia Conboy, said “These cuts will affect vulnerable older people,  carers and people with disabilities, all of whom are groups supported by the eight members of our alliance.  Older & Bolder would be very concerned if the lack of engagement  with older people’s organisations prior to...

The Older & Bolder alliance has welcomed this afternoon’s announcement that Kathleen Lynch TD has been appointed as the Minister for Older People. 

Older & Bolder is an alliance of eight non-governmental organisations in the ageing sector: Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers Association, Irish Hospice Foundation, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, the Older Women’s Network and the Senior Help Line.

Older & Bolder’s Director, Patricia Conboy, said that her alliance is looking forward to working with Minister...

17 February 2011

Dear Patricia,

I am writing to you in response to your letter dated this month regarding your campaign.

You can be assured of the Socialist Party and United Left Alliance’s support for your five campaign objectives.

Regardless of the promises you will no doubt receive from the establishment parties of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour the plain fact is that they are all wedded to the EU/IMF deal and the cut back agenda that goes with it. We do not anticipate that older people will be exempt from this.

Thus if we get a good group of TDs...

17 February 2011

Dear Patricia

Thank you for your letter of 11 February addressed to Enda Kenny which I am acknowledging on his behalf.

I enclose for your information a copy of the Fine Gael policy on Older People [reproduced below].

With very best wishes, yours sincerely,

Phil Hogan,

Director of Elections.

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Prioritising Older People

In preparation for the longer term needs of an ageing society, Fine Gael is committed to supporting older people and ensuring that they are...

The Older & Bolder alliance today (Wednesday, 9 February) set out five priorities which parties and candidates must address if they are to win older people’s votes.
The ‘High Five’ priorities include Fairer Health Care, Secure Pensions, Improved Local Transport, Greater Involvement for older citizens and the long-overdue delivery of Ireland’s National Positive Ageing Strategy.  They represent the shared views and concerns of the eight organisations within the Older & Bolder alliance: Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Carers...

Older & Bolder has today welcomed  the fact that the State Pension and associated supports (household benefits package and free travel) have escaped a direct cut in the Budget and welcomes the allocation of an additional once-off €40 to all households in receipt of fuel allowance.

However, Older & Bolder expressed concern about cuts to other vulnerable groups in this Budget. Director Patricia Conboy stated, “Older & Bolder has long advocated the protection of all vulnerable groups and the shaping of a society where there’s trust, solidarity and where we shape...