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Policy Issues Home

A wide range of material on many policy issues is available on this page.  This includes both material and commentary from Social Justice Ireland and material from other sources.  The policy issues are listed alphabetically in the menu on this page.

Housing crisis drives Living Wage to €12.30 per hour

3rd July 2019

The Living Wage for 2019 has been set at €12.30 per hour, an increase of 40 cents in the 12 months. This is being driven mainly by the rising cost of accommodation in Ireland. It is time Government got a handle on the housing crisis, and set a timeframe to move the National Minimum Wage in the direction of Living Wage.

Ireland needs an Adequate Tax-Take

1st July 2019

Government's annual budget is the best opportunity available for policymakers to begin to tackle the various crises, challenges, and infrastructural deficits faced by Ireland. To achieve the various objectives, policy over the next few years must focus on increasing Ireland’s tax-take. Ireland needs an Adequate Tax-Take. Budget 2020 is the time to take a first step.

UN Report outlines the stark impact climate change will have on people in poverty

28th June 2019

Climate change will have the greatest impact on those living in poverty, who have the least capacity to protect themselves.  Yet they are responsible for just a fraction of global emissions.

Budget 2020 must contain the first major steps to tackling Ireland's accommodation crisis

26th June 2019

To achieve the objectives of providing adequate and appropriate accommodation in sufficient numbers, reducing social housing waiting lists and eliminating homelessness, Government must pursue the following four proposals in Budget 2020.

Affordability, not lax regulation and tax incentives, is key to addressing the housing crisis

24th June 2019

It is widely acknowledged that the availability of credit, coupled with ‘light touch’ financial regulation and Government policy contributed to the housing boom and bust which saw spiralling mortgage arrears, social housing waiting lists and homelessness.  Why then, are we so eager to recreate the mistakes of the past?

OECD launches consultation on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development

21st June 2019

The OECD is seeking public comments on the draft Recommendation on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD).  The format of the consultation is a short survey (5 questions) and the deadline for submissions is Friday, 28th June 2019.  Social Justice Ireland has published extensively on Ireland's progress towards the SDGs.  To support you to make your submission, we have collated our most recent work in this area in one place.  Please click 'Read More' to access the latest from Social Justice Ireland on Ireland and the SDGs.

Social Justice Ireland submission to the Seanad Consultation Committee re Traveller participation

19th June 2019

Following the official recognition of the ethnicity of Irish Travellers in 2017, the Seanad Consultation Committee sought views from a range of stakeholders to make proposals to support Travellers’ full equality post-ethnicity; and to make recommendations on the way forward.

Climate Action Plan 2019 - implementing ambitious actions immediately the key to success

17th June 2019

The Climate Action Plan 2019 contains many welcome policy recommendations, the challenge will be to implement them in a manner that is fair and that protects those who will be most impacted.  Budget 2020 must put the national interest ahead of short-term sectoral interests if Government is serious about delivering on the Climate Action Plan 2019.

Budget 2020 must lay the foundations for a low carbon future

17th June 2019

Ireland has the capacity to develop ambitious climate policy - in Budget 2020 we must start to implement it.

Budget 2020 an opportunity to consolidate employment gains

14th June 2019

Employment numbers have been a major “good news story” in Ireland’s economic recovery and Budget 2020 is an opportunity to take steps to ensure these positive trends continue. Social Justice Ireland has, in our recently launched Budget Choices 2020 submission, identified a number of areas for investment.

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