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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.

Programme for Government 2011-2016 - Full Text

6th March 2011

Fine Gael and Labour have produced a programme for Government entitled Government for National Recovery 2011-2016.

The full text of the Programme for Government 2011-2016 may be downloaded below

Social Justice Ireland has issued the following as an initial response to the new Programme for Government.

All sectors of society must share social responsibility if current crises are to be addressed successfully aand Full text of draft of Council of Europe's Charter on shared social responsibilities

4th March 2011

Addressing 400 people from 42 countries at a conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission and the Council of Europe, Fr Seán Healy, SMA, Director of Social Justice Ireland argued that:

Report of the Independent Review Panel on the Department of Finance - Full Text

2nd March 2011
The Panel was established by Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan on 10 September, 
2010, to examine the Department of Finance’s performance over the last ten years and 
advise how the Department might adapt to meet the challenges of the future. Ireland’s 
economic challenges are substantial, and have become more starkly defined over the three 
month period of our review. 
 
2. We had enormous support conducting our review. We met a large number of people 

Council of Europe- Full text of draft of Council of Europe's Charter on shared social responsibilities

28th February 2011
The political and social achievements of Europe are under threat. Public over 
indebtedness, particularly in a context of crisis, exposes states to pressures to cut back 
investment in the field of social protection, access to health-care, education and housing. 
This reduces their ability to take action against inequalities and discrimination. The 
disappearance of jobs as a result of company relocations and technological change in the 

Community and Voluntary Pillar proposes 5-point plan for incoming Government

21st February 2011

In its latest policy document, the Community and Voluntary Pillar, of which Social Justice Ireland is a member, has urged  that the time period for reaching the target of 3% of GDP in borrowing should be extended to 2016.  Below is a summary of the C+V Pillar's position which spells out  a 5-point plan which should be at the core of an incoming Government's agenda.

NCB analysis provides some clarity on government's options re bondholders

14th February 2011

NCB have published a very interesting analysis of the future for Irish bank senior bondholders.  It shows there are almost €75bn in bonds held currently by the Irish banking system.  A substantial proportion of these (almost €25bn) are either subordinated or unsecured.

Irish government liabilities at €151bn at end of September 2010 - and rising

4th February 2011

Government liabilities are now in excess of €151bn.

Should Ireland pay the debts run up by gambling bankers and speculators?

3rd February 2011

An article by financial journalist Michael Lewis in next month’s Vanity Fair argues that Ireland will have no choice but to default on the private debt (i.e. not sovereign debt). Lewis is well known for writing on Greece and Iceland and their financial crises. He argues strongly against the claim that Ireland has no choice but to repay the debts run up by gambling bankers and speculators. 

Central Bank forecast for economic growth much lower than Government announced in Budget 2011

30th January 2011

The latest Central Bank Quarterly Bulletin has produced growth predictions that are substantially lower than those contained in the Government’s Budget. This brings the Government’s other predictions into serious question. Readers will recall that Social Justice Ireland predicted this would be the case when the Budget was published.

Top 10% have gained most since the 1980s as income gap widens between these and all others in society

30th January 2011

New research published by Social Justice Ireland  shows that, while poverty in Ireland is high, Government policies since 1987 have been increasing the income of the richest ten per cent of households and widening the gap between these and the rest of society. 

Social Justice Ireland has called on all political parties participating in the forthcoming General Election to spell out how they intend to reverse this process in the years immediately ahead.

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