Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tagairt a dhéanamh don alt sa The Irish Timesar maidin ag Kitty Holland. The article refers to the cuts imposed during the financial crisis disproportionately hurting the disadvantaged and marginalised and it states that, according to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, they must be phased out. As we know, there were hearings in the past couple of weeks by the committee, and the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Sean Sherlock, attended, as did the representatives of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which led a group of 12 NGOs and members of civil society. This was the first time representatives from Ireland appeared before the committee since 2002.

The report this morning outlines the findings or recommendations of the committee. The committee has said that notwithstanding the unprecedented economic crisis that faced Ireland, the response had been “disproportionately focused on instituting cuts to public expenditure in the areas of housing, social security, health care and education, without altering its tax regime”. It has also said: "The austerity measures, which continue to be applied, have had significant adverse impact on the entire population, particularly on disadvantaged and marginalised individuals and groups, in enjoying their economic, social and cultural rights.” That echoes much of what we have been saying in opposition about the way the austerity policies have had an impact. The committee notes the impact on people living in consistent poverty or at risk of poverty, particularly children, single-parent families, older people, people with disabilities, Travellers and migrants. That really echoes many of the calls we have been making here for the past two or three years regarding the way budgets have come forward and the way Government policies have affected these groups. Perhaps the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Sherlock, could attend the House for a debate on the findings of the UN committee. We should discuss how the Government intends to address the issue that has been raised and rectify the situation that citizens have been put in. It would be a worthwhile debate that could cover a number of the issues we regularly raise.