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Older People's Advocate

Dame Joan Harbison has been appointed as the Older People's Advocate and took up her post on Monday 1st December 2008. Her office is located at:
First floor
Millenium House,
Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7BN
Telephone: 028 9031 6383
E-mail: info@olderpeoplesadvocateni.org
Website: http://www.olderpeoplesadvocateni.org/
The Advocate will, amongst other duties, provide:
  • A focus for individual older people and representative groups from the voluntary and community sector to highlight issues that are of concern for older people and bring these to the attention of Junior Ministers in OFMDFM.
  • Junior Ministers and OFMDFM with an analysis based on the views of the voluntary and community sectors on the impact and practical out workings of policies and strategies aimed at older people.

Older People's Commissioner

Latest News

The deadline for responses to the consultation on the Commissioner for Older People is the 7th January 2010.
The current proposals to establish a Commissioner for Older People are set out in a consultation paper and an accompanying Draft Bill which represent the Executive’s current view on the best way to achieve that Programme for Government commitment
The consultation for the Older People's Commissioner can be accessed here.
In November 2007 Deloitte were commissioned by the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, to undertake a Review of the case for a Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland.  Within the Terms of Reference for the Review Deloitte were instructed to take account of:
  • The desired outcomes for older people;
  • Existing provisions for advocacy, protection and support (including in other jurisdictions);
  • The views of stakeholders; and
  • Costs and benefits of different options.
You can view a copy of the Review Report (PDF 463KB), submitted by Deloitte in May 2008.
Contact the Older People’s Commissioner Team at
Older People’s Commissioner Team
Equality Legislation
Equality Rights and Social Need Division
Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Room E3.18
Castle Buildings
Stormont Estate
Belfast BT4 3SR
Email
olderpeoplescommissioner@ofmdfmni.gov.uk
Telephone
028 9052 2975 / 028 9052 8273
Textphone
028 9052 2526
Fax
028 9052 3323

Age discrimination in employment

The Employment Framework Directive (2000/78/EC) requires all member states in the European Union to introduce legislation to prohibit direct and indirect discrimination at work on the grounds of age, sexual orientation, religion and belief and disability. The Directive required that legislation prohibiting age discrimination was brought into force on 1 October 2006.
For further information please go to the Employment Equality Regulations page.