Commissioner for Older People Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Duties of the Commissioner

3.—(1) The Commissioner must promote an awareness of matters relating to the interests of older persons and of the need to safeguard those interests.

(2) The Commissioner must keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice relating to the interests of older persons.

(3) The Commissioner must keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of services provided for older persons by relevant authorities.

(4) The Commissioner must promote the provision of opportunities for, and the elimination of discrimination against, older persons.

(5) The Commissioner must encourage best practice in the treatment of older persons.

(6) The Commissioner must promote positive attitudes towards older persons and encourage participation by older persons in public life.

(7) The Commissioner must advise the Secretary of State, the Executive Committee of the Assembly and a relevant authority on matters concerning the interests of older persons—

(a) as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of a request for advice; and

(b) on such other occasions as the Commissioner thinks appropriate.

(8) The Commissioner must take reasonable steps to ensure that—

(a) older persons are made aware of—

(i) the functions of the Commissioner;

(ii) the location of the Commissioner’s office; and

(iii) the ways in which they may communicate with the Commissioner;

(b) older persons are encouraged to communicate with the Commissioner;

(c) the views of older persons are sought concerning the exercise by the Commissioner of the Commissioner’s functions;

(d) the services of the Commissioner are, so far as practicable, made available to older persons in the locality in which they live.