A new Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland is being sought to “play a pivotal role” in protecting the rights of the elderly.
Stormont’s Executive Office has launched the appointment process to replace the outgoing commissioner, Eddie Lynch, who took up the post back in 2016 and was reappointed for another four-year term in 2020.
Mr Lynch had previously served as the chief executive of Age Sector Platform and in a senior position at the Consumer Council, while his work for older people before taking up the commissioner post included establishing the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament.
His work was praised by Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who said: “We want to thank the outgoing commissioner, Eddie Lynch, for his work during his time in the role, and we look forward to appointing a new commissioner who will continue to champion the interests of older people at the highest level and bring about real improvements in their lives.”
The new commissioner will receive an annual salary of between £79,000 and almost £89,000.
A description of the post states an “empathic, approachable and a skilled communicator” is being sought who “will understand the wide range of challenges facing older people, including protecting the rights to health and social care, ageism, tackling loneliness and isolation, to addressing crime and striving for access to affordable energy, and make these views heard”.
The role itself was created in 2011, and the former director of the Alzheimer’s Society in Northern Ireland, Claire Keating became the first person to hold the post.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “It is vital we have a dedicated commissioner for older people. The new commissioner will play a pivotal role in ensuring we continue to safeguard and promote the rights of older people across our society.”
