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

Tá sé do-chreidte nach bhfuilimid go léir ar aon intinn maidir le na téarmaí sa ghnó príobháideach seo. Cheapas go mbeimid go léir ag tacú leis na téarmaí. I feel an air of disbelief that we are actually going to vote on this Private Members' motion because who could vote against principles of human rights and equality? Who could vote against that aspect of the motion that calls for a guiding vision for Ireland that would see policy coherence and a commitment to the common good? I cannot understand the objection to the part of the motion that calls for a narrowing of the gap between the basic social welfare rates and the income required, as measured by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice, for a minimally adequate standard of living and for that gap to be narrowed gradually. Some Members will vote against a Private Members' motion which acknowledges the positives in the economic recovery. They will also be voting against human rights which, as I outlined last night, are part of our country's obligations under international human rights treaties.

It is disappointing that because of the amendment to the motion and the vote, we have not had what I had hoped would be a more philosophical debate on the principles and ideals that would guide us over the next few years. One of the ways to get it right is if human rights are at the core of what we do in budgets and in policies. I know there are challenges when it comes to a human rights-based budget analysis, such as accessing data and the capacity skills for those who would do the work, but they are not insurmountable.

Joseph Stiglitz is often quoted and I am struck by one short quote that every downturn comes to an end. We hope it is coming to an end but what some people suffered during that downturn must be acknowledged, from the forced 100% repayment to reckless banks and bondholders, who gambled and lost but who really did not lose at all, to the cost to the Irish people that was foisted on them, without their agreement. We know the cost to families and communities. Some 500,000 people emigrated. We know the cost in terms of the growth in poverty, the growth in unemployment and the growth in homelessness. It is all the more vital that we get it right if we are in recovery and that we do not get complacent and say that happened before but it will never happen again. It can happen and that is why it is vital we put human rights and the common good at the heart of what we do.

When tax incentives are offered in a budget, are they proofed from a human rights perspective? Will the Government consider a sunset clause after a certain number of a years - a review that the objectives of the incentives have been met and that this would include a human rights audit? Can the Government put its hand on its heart and say that the tax policy here is compatible with the obligation to use the maximum available resources to realise economic and social rights? On the international stage, we are a respected voice for human rights but we also must be a voice for tax justice, against tax havens and against illicit flows of capital. That must be part of our guiding philosophy.

We all agree on the principles of accountability, transparency and participation. Deputy Catherine Murphy and I were members of the Constitutional Convention, which was a very good example of participatory democracy.

I acknowledge the work and assistance of Social Justice Ireland, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Christian Aid. I used some of their work in my speech last night and do so again tonight and I thank them for their insights and dedication. I also thank everybody who contributed to the debate last night and tonight, especially my colleagues in the Technical Group because, collectively, we have been a voice for justice and equality and are concerned for those who get lost in the GDPs, the percentages and the statistics.

We can acknowledge the positives. Every positive must be welcomed but the question is who is benefiting most from those positives. We all respect the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and I was struck by something in its magazine recently. It said that Government, media etc. want to give the impression that the country has entered recovery and that the era of austerity is over but what it is finding in its day-to-day work with people in severe deprivation, lack of money, shortage of the necessities of life and worries about maintaining a roof over one's head. It is most directly involved with the people who are suffering in this country.

I had hoped for more philosophy, so I will finish with a quote from Nelson Mandela. He said: "Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely day dreaming, but vision with action can change the world." We must get our vision right, then we will get our action right. We can create a better country because every action must be accompanied by a vision. If our vision is equality and the common good, then our actions must match that also.

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