The following motion was moved by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan on Tuesday, 25 November 2014:That Dáil Éireann: acknowledges: — that there are positive signs of economic recovery; and — the social impact analysis and the pre-budget consultations carried out by the Department of Social Protection; notes: — that there are insufficient human rights aspects included in budgets which shows Ireland is not in-line with the United Nations (UN) Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee’s minimal core requirements; — other than the Department of Social Protection, no other Government Department carries out social impact analysis and thus no adequate assessment of the impact of budgetary decisions; — that the current process of forming budgets does not have evidence based discussions; and — the lack of engagement by the Economic Management Council with the voluntary/community sector; and calls for: — agreement that the income gap between the basic social welfare rates and the income required for a minimally adequate standard of living (as measured by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice Studies on minimum essential budgetary standards) should be reduced in each in each year’s budget; — the effects of budgetary impact on people be analysed by a social impact survey, before the publishing of budgets, which will be completed by a cross-Department body and recommend requirements as set out by the UN Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee's minimal core requirements; and — a guiding vision for Ireland which would ensure coherence at the core of public policy and a commitment to the common good.

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