Siobhan Casey has officially taken up her role as the new Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland.  

Ms Casey is the third Commissioner to be appointed since the establishment of COPNI in 2011. On her first week in post, she has outlined a bold and clear vision: to advocate for a society that not only understands the needs of our ageing population but is also fully prepared to support it; a commitment to taking a strong stand against ageism, challenging discriminatory attitudes, and relentlessly championing the rights of older people, ensuring their voices are heard and their contributions valued. 

She said: “I truly believe that older people are a wonderful asset, who carry generations of experience and wisdom which greatly enriches our society.  I am delighted to get started as the new Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland. I have great admiration and respect for the office and the work of my predecessors Eddie Lynch and Claire Keatinge. 

“Many of us have heard the repeated message that we are an ‘ageing population’ but few really know what that really means.  It presents both great challenges and significant opportunities. The challenge lies in ensuring that our systems and structures are equipped to support an ageing society, while the opportunity lies in harnessing the potential of older people to contribute to the community, economy, and the continued growth of society.  Our society must be ready to embrace this great demographic shift." 

 Ms Casey also highlighted the need to address age discrimination in Northern Ireland, calling for urgency to introduce legislation which ensures older people here have the same protections as those living in other parts of the UK. She also underlined the importance of introducing the long-awaited Adult Protection Bill to safeguard some of the most vulnerable in society. 

"In the weeks and months ahead, I will be working to define my key priorities, and I am looking forward to engaging with older people throughout this process, as their opinions are vital in helping to shape these priorities.  It’s really important to me that their voices are at the heart of my work. I am excited to begin this important work and to continue advancing the vital mission of COPNI, ensuring that the needs and rights of older people remain at the forefront of our efforts."