From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges ...

Opening Address (1)Karen Erwin, Chairperson, The Equality AuthorityI want to welcome you all to this very important landmark conference. It places ageism at the centreof the debate to bring forward the age equality agenda in Ireland. Ageism can affect all people.Today, with our partners in the NCAOP and HeBE, we focus on ageism in later life.The conference is taking place in the second week of a national advertising campaign called Say Noto Ageism. It is a unique and timely campaign that challenges us all to ‘Say No to Ageism’. Agediscrimination features prominently in our casework under the equality legislation, which covers agediscrimination in employment and in access to goods and services, accommodation and educationalestablishments.The campaign was proposed by the NCAOP and has been developed in partnership with The EqualityAuthority and HeBE. Each of the partners has committed time and financial resources to thecampaign (and to the conference) so that it will have a real impact. I would also like to acknowledgethe contribution of the Atlantic Philanthropies.8The aim of the conference is to flesh out the concept of ageism and outline necessary responses tothis issue. The conference gives us the opportunity to learn, share experiences and developinitiatives that will combat ageism in our society.The conference asks us to address the challenge of converting Ireland from an ageist society to onewhich values age equality. Older people face many barriers in their efforts to take part in their ownsociety. These barriers limit the opportunities of all. As the Say No to Ageism campaign proclaims,‘life will always have limits but age should not be one of them’.Conference Proceedings