National Council on Ageing and Older People (Establishment) Order, 1997
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: This Order may be cited as the National Council on Ageing and Older People (Establishment Order) 1997.
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paragraphs: In this Order:
"the Council" means the National Council on Ageing and Older People established by this Order.
"the Chairperson" means the Chairperson for the time being of the Council.
"Officer" means an employee of the Council.
"the Minister" means the Minister for Health.
"Fund" means the grant or grants paid to the Council by the Minister.
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paragraphs: (1) A body to be known as The National Council on Ageing and Older People is hereby established to perform the functions conferred upon it by this Order.
(2) The Council shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a seal and with power to sue and be sued with its corporate name and to hold land.
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paragraphs: The functions of the Council are as follows:
(1) To advise the Minister for Health on all aspects of ageing and the welfare of older people, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister and in particular on:
( a ) measures to promote the health of older people;
( b ) measures to promote the social inclusion of older people;
( c ) the implementation of the recommendations contained in policy reports commissioned by the Minister for Health.
( d ) methods of ensuring co-ordination between public bodies at national and local level in the planning and provision of services for older people;
( e ) means of encouraging greater partnership between statutory and voluntary bodies in providing services for older people;
( f ) meeting the needs of the most vulnerable older people;
( g ) means of encouraging positive attitudes to life after 65 years and the process of ageing;
( h ) means of encouraging greater participation by older people
( i ) whatever action, based on research, is required to plan and develop services for older people.
(2) To assist the development of national and regional policies and strategies designed to produce health gain and social gain for older people by:
( a ) undertaking research on the lifestyle and the needs of older people in Ireland;
( b ) identifying and promoting models of good practice in the care of older people and service delivery to them;
( c ) providing information and advice based on research findings to those involved in the development and/or implementation of policies and services pertaining to the health, well being and autonomy of older people;
( d ) liasing with statutory, voluntary and professional bodies involved in the development and/or implementation of national and regional policies which have as their object health gain or social gain for older people.
(3) To promote the health, welfare and autonomy of older people.
(4) To promote a better understanding of ageing and older people in Ireland.
(5) To liase with international bodies which have functions similar to the functions of the Council.
The Council may also advise other Ministers, at their request, on aspects of ageing and the welfare of older people which are within the functions of the Council.
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paragraphs: The Council may, in relation to the performance of its functions, publish documents, organise conferences, support initiatives and establish informal networks to promote healthy ageing.
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paragraphs: (1) The Council shall consist of not more than thirty members appointed by the Minister. A minimum of four of the members shall be aged 65 years or over.
(2) The Minister shall appoint from amongst the members of the Council a Chairperson who shall hold office until he or she ceases to be a member of the Council or until the Minister appoints another person to be Chairperson.
(3) The term of office of a member of the Council shall be such period not exceeding four years from the date of appointment, as may be specified by the Minister when appointing him or her and he or she shall hold office for the period for which he or she is appointed unless he or she sooner dies, resigns or ceases to be a member in accordance with Article 6 of this Order.
(4) In the event of a casual vacancy arising through the death, resignation or cessation of membership under Article 6 of this Order of a member of the Council, the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the Minister and the person so appointed shall hold office as a member of the Council for the unexpired period of the term of office of the said member.
(5) A member shall cease to be a member of the Council on his or her being requested by the Minister to resign.
(6) The quorum of the Council shall be eight.
(7) The Council shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions.
(8) The Council may regulate by standing orders or otherwise, its procedure and business.
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paragraphs: The proceedings of the Council shall not be invalidated by any vacancy or vacancies among its members or by any defect in the appointment of the Council or any member thereof.
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paragraphs: (1) The Chairperson may, at any time, upon giving not less than five working days notice call a meeting of the Council.
(2) If the Chairperson fails, neglects or refuses to call a meeting of the Council after a requisition for that purpose, signed by eight members of the Council has been presented to him or her, any eight members of the Council may forthwith on that refusal, call a meeting of the Council, such meeting not to be held until subsequent to the expiry of this period of five working days commencing on the day of such refusal.
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paragraphs: At a meeting of the Council:
(1) the Chairperson shall, if he or she is present, be Chairperson of the meeting.
(2) if and so long as the Chairperson is not present, the members of the Council who are present shall choose one of their number of be Chairperson of the meeting.
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paragraphs: Minutes of the proceedings of each meeting of the Council shall be kept and shall be verified by the Chairperson of the next ensuing meeting.
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paragraphs: The names of the members present at a meeting of the Council shall be recorded in the records of the proceedings of the Council.
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paragraphs: (1) A person shall not receive any remuneration for acting as a member of the Council.
(2) Members of the Council may be paid travelling and subsistence allowances in accordance with such scale as may from time to time be approved by the Minister.
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paragraphs: (1) All acts of the Council and all questions coming or arising before the Council may be done and decided by a majority of such members of the Council as are present and vote at a meeting of the Council.
(2) In the case of equality of votes on any question arising at a meeting of the Council, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
(3) A memorandum signed by all the members of the Council shall be effective for all purposes as a resolution of the Council passed at a meeting duly convened, held and constituted.
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paragraphs: (1) In order to facilitate the discharge of the functions of the Council, the Council may establish committees whose functions shall be to assist and advise the Council in relation to the performance of its functions.
(2) The membership of such committees may consist of members of the Council and persons who are not members of the Council and a committee shall be limited to not more than sixteen members.
(3) Any committee so appointed shall act subject to such directives as may be given by the Council, and any expenditure of monies by such committee shall be subject to the approval of the Council.
(4) A member of a committee established under this section may be removed from membership at any time by the Council.
(5) The Council may at any time dissolve a committee appointed under this section.
(6) The acts of a committee established under this section shall be subject to confirmation by the Council unless the Council dispenses with the necessity of such confirmation.
(7) The Council may regulate the procedure of a committee established under this section but, subject to any such regulation, a committee established under this section may regulate its own procedure.
(8) A member of a committee established under this section shall not receive any remuneration for acting as a member of the committee, but may be paid such travelling and subsistence allowances as may be approved by the Minister.
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paragraphs: (1) The Council shall, not later than the 30th day of September in each year, submit to the Minister a statement of its estimated budgetary requirements in respect of the following financial year.
(2) The Minister may pay to the Council, in each year out of monies provided by the Oireachtas, a grant or grants, of such amount or amounts as the Minister may decide.
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paragraphs: (1) The Council shall keep all proper and usual accounts of all monies received or expended by the Council including an income and expenditure account and balance sheet and, in particular, shall keep all such special accounts as the Minister may from time to time direct.
(2) The financial year of the Council shall be the period of twelve months ending on the 31st day of December in any year and for the purposes of this provision the period commencing on the date of this Order and ending on the 31st December, 1997, shall be deemed to be a financial year.