A New and Fairer Ireland - full text

A New and Fairer Ireland is the title of Social Justice Ireland's Socio-Economic Review published on May 16, 2011.  The sub-title is: Securing Economic Development, Social Equity and Sustainability. 

This 254-page Review presents a narrative outlining what happened over recent decades to bring Ireland to where it is today, where exactly Ireland finds itself now, where Ireland should go in the years ahead and what it needs to do to get there. It goes on to address key policy areas, present a detailed analysis and propose policy initiatives that are required to develop A New and Fairer Ireland that is sustainable, equitable and a desirable place in which to live.

Current series of crises risks a regression in rights, social protection and democracy

The current series of crises risks a regression in rights, social protection and democracy according to Social Justice Ireland’s annual Socio-Economic Review. The 254-page Review, entitled ‘A New and Better Ireland’, claims that “on the one hand there is a danger that people put all their trust in the market as the only real source of solutions to the challenges being faced. On the other hand there is a danger that people expect Government to resolve all the challenges effectively and fairly. Both of these extremes must be resisted.” As resources are scarce it is important that there be a fair sharing of responsibility in shouldering the burden of Ireland’s recovery. To date the burden placed on Ireland’s poor people, including the working poor is unjust, unfair and unacceptable”.
 
Social Justice Ireland’s Review argues that all stakeholders must recognise the importance of securing the wellbeing of all. There must also be recognition of the need for social, environmental and intergenerational justice. To be effective an approach is required that is characterised by a spirit of reciprocity, mutual accountability and a shared commitment to reducing social inequalities and inequalities of influence. 
 
Taking a ‘shared responsibility’ approach would mean that individuals and institutions (public and private) would be required to be accountable for the consequences of their actions or omissions. This would apply to the impact on areas such as the protection of human dignity, the environment and common good, poverty and discrimination and the pursuit of justice, development and social cohesion. It is clear that all individuals and institutions do not have equal responsibility in the various areas addressed. Some have much greater resources, power or capacity and, consequently, have greater responsibility. But all have some capacity and, consequently, some responsibility.
 
This is not the case at present. In fact a combination of flawed analysis and faulty logic resulted in poor people taking a hugely unfair proportion of the burden of Budget adjustments in recent years. Government failed to acknowledge that improvements in social welfare rates in the mid-2000s were simply a partial ‘catch-up’ for people who had been left far behind while others gained in the preceding years.  This flawed analysis was combined with a faulty logic which justified targeting poor people without realising they were far less able to absorb the ‘hits’ heaped on them. As a result, the working poor and people depending on social welfare payments have been left without sufficient resources to live life with dignity because of Government’s actions according to the Social Justice Ireland’s Socio-Economic Review.
 
The Review goes on to point out that we live in a world in which no-one is totally independent or immune from the damaging consequences of other people’s actions or failure to act. The most advantaged population groups must not ignore their interdependencies and responsibilities vis-à-vis the rest of society. This is especially important when the least advantaged see their achievements in terms of access to rights, public services and common goods placed under threat. It is very important that all sectors of society work together and share responsibility for combating the causes of inequalities, poverty, insecurity and discrimination.
 
For such an approach to work effectively would require much greater transparency and accountability, much greater access to knowledge and a deliberative approach to decision-making. It would require a new approach to responsibility in a context of interdependence.
 
The full text of the 254-page Review may be accessed here free of charge.
 
 

Flawed analysis and faulty logic have resulted in poor people being wrongly targeted by Government.

A combination of flawed analysis and faulty logic has resulted in poor people taking a hugely unfair proportion of the burden of Budget adjustments in recent years. In its 254-page annual Socio-Economic Review entitled ‘A New and Fairer Ireland’, published Monday May 16^th, 2011, Social Justice Ireland argues that Government failed to acknowledge that improvements in social welfare rates in the mid-2000s were simply a partial ‘catch-up’ for people who had been  left far behind while others gained in the preceding years.  This flawed analysis was combined with a faulty logic which justified targeting poor people without realising they were far less able to absorb the ‘hits’ heaped on them. As a result, the working poor and people depending on social welfare payments have been left without sufficient resources to live life with dignity because of Government’s actions. This situation is unjust, unfair and unacceptable and should be reversed.

1. Put the working poor into the tax net.
2. Introduced a Universal Social Charge the ‘working poor’ must pay.
3. Reduced Child Benefit payments.
4. Increased charges for some services.
5. Introduced new charges for services that had been free up to then.
6. Reduced the minimum wage. (This is to be reversed by the new Government).