De Brún asks EU Ministers to make older people's rights a priority

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún today met with Joan Harbison, the Older People's Advocate and Irene Kingston, the AGE Platform Europe representative to discuss issues on ageing and intergenerational solidarity.
Among the topics under discussion was the issue of a European Union directive on equal access for goods and services, specifically insurance products, for older people.
Ms de Brún said "The draft directive on equal treatment in access to goods and services is still being blocked by some member states. It is essential in the interests of non-discrimination that this directive is adopted."
"In advance of a key meeting of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Social Affairs Ministers on 7-8 June, we need to let the governments know how such a directive would help tackle such problem as upper age limits for access to finance or insurance, health services or education.
"Some countries are questioning the relevance of such directive, and the more the governments show their support for it the better.This is vital to combat age-related and other discrimination, not only here at home but right across the EU"