Annual Parliament Meeting 2026

Our Annual Parliament Meeting was held on the 13^th May 2026. It brought together 70 delegates representing affiliated organisations from across the country. The Annual gathering serves as a crucial platform to review progress, set advocacy priorities, and explore the latest research in positive ageing.

The meeting opened with a review of the organisation’s 2025 Annual Report (available to read in full online) which outlines the Parliament’s continued advocacy work in key areas such as pensions, healthcare, housing, and transport.

A major highlight of this year’s meeting was an engaging session with our guest speaker, Dr Ann Monaghan, Project Manager at TILDA (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing) based at Trinity College Dublin.

Dr Monaghan shared crucial insights from TILDA’s extensive research on how to maintain a high quality of life as we grow older. Her presentation focused on actionable strategies for ’ageing well’ emphasising:

• Biological vs. Chronological Age -Understanding how lifestyle choices and physical safety impact how our bodies age, rather than just the number on a calendar.
• The Power of Connection: The profound impact that active social engagement, community involvement, and lifelong learning have on long-term cognitive and emotional well-being.
• Physical Resilience: Practical, evidence-based approaches to physical activity, exercise, and proactive falls prevention to maintain independent living.

“Active participation in community and educational activities doesn’t just pass the time – the data shows it fundamentally enhances health outcomes and quality of life.”

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, allowing delegates to bridge the gap between world-class academic research and the real, everyday experiences of older people across Ireland.

The afternoon session saw delegates take to the floor to debate and vote on 15 motions for the coming year. Motions ranged from the need for an Independent Commissioner for Older People to Pension Equality, to the Shingles Vaccine.

These motions form the bedrock of our mandate and work for the coming year.

To progress motions, the ISCP Team together with our Executive committee lobby the government through submissions to the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Health and Transport.

We also engage with government through our participation in Alliance of Age Sector NGOs and Community & Voluntary Platform in Bilateral meetings with the Departments. This work ensures that the organisation continues to directly and democratically represent the needs of its 250,000 collective members through this lobbying of national policymakers and government bodies.

With a clear strategy forged from debated motions, and fresh insights from the TILDA report, the ISCP enters the coming year stronger and more focused than ever.