Collectively and in partnership with other organisations across the voluntary sector we have developed a strong policy position with recommendations that we believe would deliver the best outcomes for older people now and far into the future.

WE AGREE that the Commissioner must...
* Be empowered to act independently from all other government and public authorities.
* Be endowed with the capacity to undertake casework and initiate litigation in strategic cases.
* Have the power to mediate on issues of contention between service providers and older people.
* Have an arbitration function exercisable where time is a critical factor.
* Be empowered to conduct formal investigations, issue directives, conduct audits of compliance and reviews of performance.
* Be endowed with “victim” status to enable cases to be taken without the requirement to name an individual.
* Have the power to commission and publish research on issues affecting older people, provide information and stimulate debate on issues and models of good practice.
* Have a duty to communicate widely, seek the opinions of older people and take their views into account.

The Commissioner needs to have wide ranging powers….Powers to keep legislation, policy and practice under review, powers to mediate in disputes between older people and service providers, investigative powers and the capacity to undertake casework are all desirable because being able to respond to approaches from older people and resolve issues will be central to the Commissioners credibility.
Victim Status would allow the Commissioner to take a case in their own name, this is important because older people may not be willing or able to present as a witness in court.

We, outside of Government need to send the message home … Northern Ireland needs a powerful Older People’s Commissioner. We urge other organisations and individuals to support this campaign to help ensure that the planned Older People’s Commissioner for NI is independent, adequately resourced, powerful and able to act with a sense of urgency. We are building a Coalition of organisations and individuals with a shared vision for a robust, effective Older People's Commissioner for Northern Ireland. Join us and
Spread the word and together we will build the required clarity, consensus and support to ensure that the Independent Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland will have strong enough powers to guarantee that the rights of older people are protected, their interests are promoted and the issues affecting them are given prominence.

May 12th 2010, Departmental officials brief Committee Members on amendments to the draft Older People's Commissioner Bill in response to the consultation analysis.