Third Age

Lobbying Organisation Third Age

Date published 13 Jan, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Health

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 2025

Specific Details Policy Areas: Experiences of Older People at End of Life; Bereavement; Loss and Grief; Positive ageing; Ageism. Intended results: Targeted training/developed resources for engaging and interacting with older people. Provision of bereavement supports. Access to out-of-hours GP, and community Nursing services for all older people at end of life. Implement Statutory Home Care Scheme. Repeat National End of Life Survey. Establish Independent Commissioner for Ageing & older People.

Intended results Specific details/Intended results: (1) Targeted training for those interacting with older people and resources to engage in honest conversations (2) Provision of bereavement supports for older bereaved people who are at heightened risk of social isolation (3) Guaranteed access to out-of-hours GP and community nursing services for all older people at end of life (4) Implement the Statutory Homecare Scheme to support older people to stay in their own home for as long as possible. Intended results continued from entry above: (5) Repeat the National End of Life Survey (6) Support the establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Paula O’Reilly (Irish Hospice Foundation), Áine Brady (Third Age), Maurice O’Connell (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs) on behalf of the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs.

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Mass communications

Email All Oireachtas Members Person(s) lobbied: Cross party group of TDs and Senators attending open-invitation meeting at the Audio Visual (AV) Room, Leinster House, 15 October 2025. Who did the lobbying? Paula O’Reilly (Irish Hospice Foundation), Áine Brady (Third Age), Maurice O’Connell (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs) on behalf of the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs. Policy Area: Experiences of Older People at End of Life; Bereavement; Loss and Grief; Positive ageing; Ageism.

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Person(s) lobbied: Cross party group of TDs and Senators attending open-invitation meeting at the Audio Visual (AV) Room, Leinster House, 15 October 2025. Who did the lobbying? Paula O’Reilly (Irish Hospice Foundation), Áine Brady (Third Age), Maurice O’Connell (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs) on behalf of the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs. Policy Area: Experiences of Older People at End of Life; Bereavement; Loss and Grief; Positive ageing; Ageism.

Meeting (1)

Person(s) lobbied: Kieran O'Donnell, Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Leinster House, Tuesday 4 November 2025 Who did the lobbying? Paula O’Reilly (Irish Hospice Foundation), Áine Brady (Third Age), Maurice O’Connell (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs) on behalf of the Alliance of Age Sector NGOs. Policy Area: Experiences of Older People at End of Life; Bereavement; Loss and Grief; Positive ageing; Ageism.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Kieran O'Donnell Minister of State (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)