Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position taken by Irish representatives on the appropriate poverty reduction target indicator during the negotiations around and formulation of the EU2020 strategy; if he is concerned that member states may cherry pick from the indicators to allow for minimal poverty reduction effort in real terms and to make a statement on the outworkings of the EU2020 strategy [36128/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the new Europe 2020 Strategy which was adopted by the European Council on 17 June and the Government fully support the core elements. I believe that the Strategy will provide an essential framework for action by the EU and Member States to achieve higher levels of sustainable jobs and growth as economic recovery is secured. As the Deputy is aware, the European Council has agreed five headline targets in the areas of: employment; research and development, including innovation; climate change and energy; education; and social inclusion, in particular poverty. The target envisaged under the new Europe 2020 Strategy which aims to promote social inclusion is framed in terms of poverty reduction targets. Its purpose is to measure progress in reducing poverty and in ensuring that the benefits of growth and jobs are shared.

The June European Council agreed a numerical target to lift 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion by 2020. The population 'at risk of poverty and exclusion' is defined by three indicators: at-risk-of-poverty; material deprivation; and low work intensity. This gives a total figure for the EU of 122 million people at risk of poverty and exclusion. This numerical target places the focus firmly on lifting people across the EU out of poverty and exclusion. Such a focus greatly lessens the possibility of any statistical ambiguities.

In support of the EU-wide target, Member States are required to set national targets using appropriate indicators which take into account national circumstances and priorities. This approach allows each Member State to reflect national policy priorities and/or to build on national targets, if these are already in place. Each Member State will consider how their national targets will contribute to the achievement of the EU target in dialogue with the Commission. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland already has a national poverty target which is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007- 2016 . The target is based on the consistent poverty indicator, which is the combination of both at-risk-of-poverty and material deprivation. The aim is to reduce poverty to between 2 - 4 per cent by 2012 and to eliminate it by 2016. The Irish approach aims to target those who experience multiple forms of poverty and exclusion in order to ensure that policies are focused on improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable.

Work is ongoing to set an Irish national poverty target that will build on the Government target in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 and will contribute to the Europe 2020 Strategy. The Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey, T.D, has sought the advice of an expert group, including representatives of the Social Partners, on how best the Irish national target can contribute to the attainment of the EU target by 2020. Proposals on the national poverty target will shortly be brought to Government.

Work on the identification of each of Ireland's national targets under each of the five EU headline targets is well underway. Officials from the European Commission visited Ireland on 27-28 September to discuss national targets and potential bottlenecks. A follow-up meeting in Brussels between Irish and Commission officials took place on 5 October. Following these most constructive bilateral exchanges, work is progressing on the finalisation of national targets under each of the five EU headline targets. These national targets will serve as an important element in the preparation of an initial draft of Ireland's National Reform Programme, which is to be prepared by mid-November 2010. It is currently anticipated that final agreement on our National Reform Programme will be reached by April 2011. It is expected that the European Council will take stock of progress under this Strategy at its meeting in December.