Challenges for Ireland (and Europe) “Massive” As Elderly Takeover: The Irish...
28th Jan 10
An editorial in The Irish Times says “more than one-fifth of the world’s population (22 per cent) will be over 60 years of age by 2050, double the current proportion, with the elderly overtaking the world’s population of children five years earlier”.
The newspaper was referring to a new report from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Population Ageing 2009, that says the numbers of elderly are expanding worldwide at an annual rate of 2.6 per cent, three times the rate of the overall population.
These trends are well-known, but the figures are stark reminders of the need for radical thinking about the whole range of public policy issues involved, from economic growth and jobs to health, pensions and housing. Big changes might also be coming down...
Former Irish MEP Highlights Dangers of Europe’s “Demographic Winter”
25th Jan 10
Kathy Sinnott, former Irish MEP, told ciNews that the EU is moving very quickly towards legalising euthanasia. She noted that in 2007 Fianna Fáil’s ALDE (liberal) political group hosted a conference on the issue in the European Parliament. It’s quite unusual to hold such a meeting at the Parliament, and there was standing room only.
Mrs Sinnott expressed concerns about what’ll...
Pro-Life Values Alive and Well As Ireland Tops EU Birthrate
27th Oct 09
Ireland has the highest birthrate of any EU country, according to the latest available figures. The Irish birthrate grew by 9 per cent in 2007, compared with the previous year. The average age of mothers giving birth was 31.1, 27 per cent of whom were 35 or older, up from 21 per cent in 1999....