Age Action Ireland (AAI) celebrated the UN's International Day on Age yesterday by handing out copies of the Equality Authority's report, Implementing Equality for Older People, to passing members of the Oireachtas and the public outside Leinster House in Dublin.
"We're saying the time has come for discrimination against older people to stop," said Mr Paul Murray of the AAI. As well as lobbying members of the Oireachtas, they have written to all the churches.
Age Action Ireland is saying old people are being disregarded and excluded from much of Irish society. This view is backed by the Equality Authority, whose chief executive, Mr Niall Crowley, called earlier this week for a comprehensive focus on ageism and age discrimination.
Age Action Ireland is concentrating on four areas.First, there is the issue of breast checks for older women. The pilot scheme stops at 64. The figures for breast cancer dip around that age, but go up later, said Mr Murray.
Secondly, discrimination in the various State "back to education" programmes. Such diverse groups as the disabled, the unemployed and single mothers are actively invited to participate, but the over-65s are excluded.
The third area being targeted, said Mr Murray, was the exclusion of over-65s from FÁS programmes. And the fourth is that the Equality Act excludes the over-65s.