A job advertisement which seeks people with an interest in heritage but excludes those over 65 has been criticised by equality groups.
Dúchas, the heritage service placed advertisements in several newspapers over the past week, seeking guide/information officers to work as seasonal guides at its 70 heritage sites.
The text of the advertisement said that people "of all ages" were being sought, but an asterisk at the bottom of the advertisement said candidates must be between 18 and 65 years. Age Action Ireland, which campaigns on behalf of older people said the advertisement was part of an "insidious and endemic ageism".
Mr Paul Murray, Age Action spokesman said older people were weary of being "asterisked" in this way. He said there was no reason to exclude older people from this particular job. "In fact older people might be more knowledgable on history and heritage than many younger people," he said.
"Candidates, indeed all people, should be assessed by their abilities, personalities and characters, not by chronological age."
The Employment Equality Act does not apply to people over 65 but the Equality Authority is lobbying to have this changed.
Mr Patrick O'Leary, Equality Authority spokesman said he could see no reason why Dúchas should exclude people over 65 years from the work advertised.
He said the Minister for Justice had given a commitment to review the equality legislation and the Equality Authority had sought a removal of the upper age limit.
No comment was available from Dúchas yesterday.
