The next Programme for Government should be focused on delivering five key outcomes: a vibrant economy, decent services and infrastructure, just taxation, good governance and sustainability. Each of these is essential if Ireland is to have a fairer future. These five areas of policy need to be addressed urgently if Ireland is to move towards being a society characterised by solidarity and fairness. They form the core of Social Justice Ireland’s proposed framework for the next Programme for Government.
Social Justice Ireland's policy briefing ' A Proposed Policy Framework for the Government of the 32nd Dáil' is available below.
Despite some modest gains in some regions in the world, millions of women are losing ground in their quest for equality in the world of work, according to a new report prepared by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report, Women at Work: Trends 2016 examined data for up to 178 countries and concludes that inequality between women and men persists across a wide spectrum of the global labour market.
International Labour Organisation report 'Women at Work - Trends 2016'
Ireland has been through many “boom-Bust” economic cycles. Each “bust” has led to assurances that lessons have been learned and that changes will be made to ensure that the next recovery will be sustainable. Election 2016 occurs at the cusp of such discussions and offers us an opportunity to vote for policies which can indeed break the “boom-bust” cycle and deliver a more stable future. Real sustainability will require a long term vision and a capacity to develop and implement policies which will have their impact in 10 or even 20 years’ time.
Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. Over 213,000 children in Ireland are at risk of poverty and over 414,000 of all children in Ireland are experiencing deprivation. A further very concerning trend that has emerged in Ireland is the significant increase in the number of young people aged 18-24 who are at risk of poverty. Since 2008 this figure has increased by 13 percentage points.
Social Justice Ireland's General Election briefing on Children and Young People.
General Election 2016 comes at a critical moment for Ireland. Decisions made in the next Dáil will have major impacts on Irish people and shape the future for a considerable time to come. In this General Election Briefing, Social Justice Ireland sets out proposals for the 32nd Dáil that would deliver a vibrant economy, decent services and infrastructure, just taxation, good governance and sustainability.
Social Justice Ireland's briefing on General Election 2016.
Three quarters of a million people are living in poverty in Ireland. Of these 230,000 are children. Poverty in rural Ireland is 4.5 percentage points higher than in urban Ireland.
