There appear to be no specific programmes promoting physical activity in older people in Ireland, despite the potential of such programmes in helping to maintain independence in older individuals, offering social, health and quality of life improvements. It was underlined by Professor de Vito that new evidence points to the benefits of breaking up exercise for older people into short sessions within the day, and including resistance training alongside aerobic activities. Research at the UCD Institute for Sport and Health could help inform policy makers of the benefits of promoting physical activity in older individuals, and provide an evidence base on which to develop new exercise ‘prescriptions’ aimed at achieving greater public health benefits than current guidelines.