Over-65s are unprotected in workplace, says Equality Authority

PEOPLE over 65-years-old are not protected in the workplace, the Equality Authority said yesterday.

Chief executive of the organisation, Niall Crowley, wants the Constitution changed to provide further legal protection against the growing problem of age discrimination.

Mr Crowley said the inclusion of an equality clause was necessary to counter ageism in many sectors of society including health, education and employment.

The Equality Authority believes the constitutional protection under Article 40 is too narrowly worded and has not been generally relied upon to promote equality.

Mr Crowley urged the Government to adopt the recommendation of the Constitutional Review Group to introduce an amendment which would specify particular grounds for protection, including age.

Although acknowledging that Ireland had some of the most progressive equality legislation within the EU, Mr Crowley pointed out that age discrimination provisions only applied to people aged 18-65.

"The upper age limit of 65 that diminishes the protection to older people in the Employment Equality Act needs to be removed," said Mr Crowley.

He said the Equality Authority's experience in implementing equality legislation had highlighted the need for such protection against age discrimination.

"Older people have emerged as a significant focus under both the Employment Equality Act and the Equal Status Act," said Mr Crowley.

Age issues account for 8% of cases examined by the Equality Authority under the Equal Status Act, especially in relation to access to motor insurance, health services, travel insurance and pubs.

They also make up 5% of cases brought under the Employment Equality Act with the main problems emerging in relation to recruitment, promotion and age limits in job advertisements.

Speaking at the AGM of Age Action Ireland in Dublin yesterday, Mr Crowley said the Equality Authority was still concerned many incidents of age discrimination remained unreported.

"Discrimination will only be effectively tackled when a widespread awareness of rights has been established and when older people feel confident that positive change can happen when they exercise their rights," said Mr Crowley.

Junior Health Minister, Ivor Callely, said it was "a very blinkered approach" to regard the contribution of senior citizens in purely economic terms.

"Economists sometimes portray old age as a burden on the younger generation, because of the taxes and social insurance contributions which must be paid by those in employment to fund pensions and health care of older citizens," said the Minister.

"Society must strive to overcome this marginalisation of older people by encouraging more positive attitudes to aging amongst the elderly themselves and the population in general."

Mr Callely said an additional 7,000 day-care centre places for the elderly would be provided over the next five years as well as a further 1,370 geriatric assessment and rehabilitation places.