Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Following budget 2015, FLAC organised a seminar and survey of some 38 organisations in regard to where that budget lies in relation to human rights. The organisations with which FLAC consulted include Crosscare, Focus Ireland, the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, the European Anti Poverty Network, the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Alzheimer Society, the Children's Rights Alliance, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Age Action, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, Mental Health Reform, the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, Amnesty International and the National Travellers Service, which is a good cross-section of organisations. Tá siad go léir ag obair ar son daoine ar an imeall agus le daoine ar an imeall. They know the real affects of budgets.

There were positives in the survey, including the increase in child benefit, funding for Tusla, the budget for social housing, the full retention of the free travel scheme and some progressive realisation for mental health and other measures, but there were not enough measures to address the housing crisis, rising rents, etc.. In response to the question, "Was the main issue you work on for your target group adequately allocated for financially in the budget", 76% of those organisations said "No". On the question, "Have the rights of vulnerable groups been properly respected and promoted in the budget", 49% said "No" and 43% said "to some extent". On the question, "How have human rights which your organisations work on been impacted on in Ireland since the recession", 65% said they were downgraded; 16% said there was no change and 11% said they had been progressed. This indicates that austerity measures have seriously undermined all people's human rights in the last seven years, particularly vulnerable groups. In terms of hard evidence, income inequality has widened, consistent poverty has increased and child poverty has increased, particularly among children in low income households. We all know the situation in regard to homelessness. We know, too, that disability rights are not being recognised.

Given that there has not been a human rights approach to our budgets, certain sectors have been more affected, such as the communities about which I spoke earlier during Leaders' Questions. We are told that contractual arrangements for the powerful interests, individuals and groups could not be broken, yet cuts could be imposed on the most vulnerable in society. It is difficult for ordinary people to accept these cuts when there is little or no effect on the lifestyles of those whose greed and corruption caused the devastation. I do not know how Governments can stand over cuts to social spending and social protection programmes which have disproportionate effects on certain groups.

We are told we are moving out of the bailout and that there are signs of recovery. This means there is an opportunity now for us collectively, inside and outside the Dáil, to work on the development of a guiding vision for Ireland with, as mentioned in the motion, policy coherence at the core of all that we do. I am sure everybody will agree that the overwhelming majority of the organisations mentioned earlier work with the most marginalised and vulnerable. All of them agree that a human rights approach to budgeting will help to ensure a fair and more equal society. We are currently not a fair and equal society in that certain sections of our society are suffering disproportionately and unfairly.

The motion calls for a reduction over successive future budgets in the income gap between social welfare rates and the income required for a minimally adequate standard of living. We are asking not that this reduction be achieved all at once but that a commitment be given to it being achieved gradually over a number of years. I do not understand how that cannot be accepted by the Government. I believe commitment and agreement to a human rights based budget could form part of a guiding vision for the future. Up to one hour ago I thought there would be no Government amendment to the motion. I thought we could agree on this motion which acknowledges recovery and all the positive work being done while pointing to the failings in this area. Unless we point out those failings, we will not be able to move ahead and address them.

The Government amendment states that detailed distributional impact analysis of tax changes is already included in budget documentation. To include something is one thing, but to do something about it is another. There is no commitment to equality in what is stated. The amendment also states that a social impact assessment will be carried out by a cross-departmental group but no details are given of the criteria or principles by which this will be guided and on whether account will be taken of the organisations to which I referred earlier who form part of front-line services to those who are most affected. The amendment also states that the Government is committed to a vision for Ireland which provides for economic and social recovery. Why can it not include "that economic and social recovery will contribute to a more equal and fair society"?

The Government has missed the essential aspect of this Private Members' motion, namely, a guiding vision for Ireland that will make a better Ireland, one that is more equitable and looks after those who are vulnerable and marginalised.

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