Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Maith é as ucht cúpla focal Gaeilge a úsáid ag tús a óráide ar son Seachtain na Gaeilge. Is breá an rud é sin a chloisteáil.

In our opinion, the European 2020 strategy has been flawed since its inception. As the European Trade Union Confederation, ETUC, pointed out, the strategy relied on inefficient instruments, in particular, the opening method of co-ordination. Subsequently, economic governance structures were established to better co-ordinate economic policies, and Europe 2020 had to fit into this new governance architecture which was not conceived to help it reach its employment or social objectives. It is a strategy which paves the way for an even greater concentration of wealth in Europe. It is obvious the goals of Europe 2020 are clearly subordinate to the economic goals of the European semester. Why are there consequences when economic targets are not met but by contrast there are no consequences for not meeting social or environmental targets?

The Commission pretends the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy has started to deliver results, but this cannot be said of the Europe 2020 goals. The policies of the European semester might be appropriate for attaining its own goals but not the 2020 goals. An easy example of this is an assessment of austerity. As the ETUC points out in its mid-term review of Europe 2020, austerity is a policy which may be appropriate for enforcing fiscal consolidation, but the austerity policy has counter-productive and negative effects on research and development, innovation, the alleviation of poverty, unemployment and climate change, and is a complete hindrance.

While billions have been poured into bailout funds since the start of the financial crisis in 2008, no substantive decrease in deprivation rates is discernible. Furthermore, according to the annual growth survey, unemployment rates remain historically high nationally and EU-wide. This has led to a divergence in employment and social outcomes. Youth unemployment remains alarmingly high in many member states, and the risk of poverty is increasing, with nearly 120 million Europeans living in or at risk of poverty, while at home 30.5% of our population lives in enforced deprivation.

The social impact of the crisis is immense. The economic and financial crisis has created a widespread social crisis, with a growing gap in the distribution of resources. The recent development of economic governance has increased disequilibrium and social imbalances. All Members of the House know inequality has increased in this country and, what is more, inequality has increased throughout Europe, particularly in countries under troika programmes. The European Commission staff working document on the country report for Ireland 2015, highlights the shortfalls in achieving Europe 2020 goals in Ireland to date. Our country specific recommendations show our failures. On facilitating female labour market participation by improving access to more affordable and full-time child care particularly for low-income families, the report found Ireland has made no progress. This is similar to point 18 of part two of the mid-term review. On the commitment to reduce the number of people experiencing consisting poverty to 4% by 2016, which is an interim target, and to 2% or less by 2020, the report stated achieving the national target remains ambitious. We are also set to miss the target on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We need to recognise the situation changes from country to country and a one size fits all approach does not work.

The political decisions of the Government and EU leaders to wed themselves to austerity, and their collective failure to embrace an ambitious stimulus programme, is why we see rampant social problems and high levels of unemployment. A radical change in policies, together with job creation and poverty reduction measures, were urged by Sinn Féin and reiterated by our MEPs and their partners in the Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left, GUE-NGL. As the ETUC further outlined, to transform Europe 2020 into a success story, first and foremost the austerity policy must end and a second more appropriate policy in favour of employment, research and innovation, education, the alleviation of poverty and strong action against climate change has to be designed. To paraphrase Danish MEP and GUE-NGL member, Rina Kari, we as Europeans will not be able to roll back poverty without adequate public services, a living wage and decent work, therefore, reorienting the 2020 strategy must be root and branch and based on human development and social and economic progress. It is not surprising that at the halfway stage Europe 2020 targets are a long way from being close to being met. There is no escaping that Europe 2020 in its current form reinforces the neoliberal system which led to the crisis.