Madam, - The current age discrimination awareness campaign being run by the Equality Authority, the National Council on Ageing and Older People and the HSE is timely and badly needed.
Age discrimination is widespread across society. It ranges from discrimination in the workplace (with denial of justified promotion and forced retirement), to restrictions on leisure activities.
At the most serious end of the scale, it results in older people being refused certain medical treatment.
The fact that more than a quarter of the new employment case files opened by the Equality Authority relate to age is both an indication of the extent of ageism in our society, and an encouraging sign that older workers are no longer willing to accept it.
Ultimately the greatest loser from age discrimination is the country as a whole, because of the wealth of experience, knowledge and volunteerism that older people can share with the rest of society.
- Yours, etc,
EAMON TIMMINS, Head of Advocacy and Communications, Age Action, Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2.