Kenny told to keep his promise to the elderly

ELDERLY CARE:OLDER PEOPLE'S charity Alone has called on Labour and Fine Gael to include specific provisions for the welfare of vulnerable older people in negotiations on the programme for government.

Vulnerable older people, such as those who were homeless or lonely, were isolated throughout the economic boom, and are disproportionately affected by the downturn, Alone said.

It is seeking consistency in the provision of home help and care support to allow people to age with dignity in their own homes, the retention of a minister for older persons and publication and implementation of the National Positive Ageing Strategy.

The charity has called on Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny to keep his promise to make Ireland “the best place on earth where people could age with dignity”.

Separately, an association of Irish NGOs has called on the next government to introduce an “ethical” foreign policy based on international human rights obligations.

Dóchas, which represents over 40 development organisations including Concern, Afri, Oxfam Ireland and Trócaire, said Ireland had a human rights obligation to invest in international development co-operation to tackle poverty. The government must ratify a number of international treaties, which had been signed, but not yet transposed into Irish law, Dóchas director Hans Zomer said.

“Ratifying these treaties would put us in a genuine leadership position internationally, and put our foreign policy – including our overseas aid commitments – on a stronger footing.”