The Central Statistics Office (CSO) data on Enforced Deprivation shows almost 900,000 people were going without basics prior to the pandemic – an increase of over 140,000 from the previous year. More than one in five children are now experiencing enforced deprivation.
While there are financial challenges for brands and retailers, they have a responsibility to manage the crisis properly, honour obligations to suppliers and look after garment workers in the developing world.
“There is a need to appreciate that our democracy has served us well in the past decade, when you take into account both recovery from the collapse of the Celtic Tiger and Britain’s decision to leave the EU."
Climate change is the most pressing issue facing us all as a global community – President Michael D Higgins at the Cork Conference on Intergenerational Climate Justice.
Last year (up to November 2018) asylum applications to Ireland increased by 27 per cent on the same time in the previous year, with the majority of applicants coming from Georgia, Albania, Syria, Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
We need to ensure the money is spent wisely, but it is not the most significant cost. The most significant cost is to the people involved and to the fabric of our society – Focus Ireland Life President and Founder, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy.
“Much greater urgency and political leadership will be required if we are to ensure the transformative change that the SDGs envisage by 2030” – Suzanne Keatinge.
The Irish Government needs to increase the tax by €3 billion to fund a fair and equal society. The money can be raised from measures such as a minimum effective corporate tax rate of 10%, a financial transactions tax, eco-taxes, and increasing the minimum effective tax rates on high earners.
Report shows Ireland is among bottom four countries of 15 European nations on sustainable progress index.
Children are living in households which are going 24 hours without a substantial meal, or being cold because parents are unable to afford to heat the home.
Without specific government intervention there is little chance of an increase in the number of disabled people with jobs.
The European Union has to become a caring Union, looking out for the socially deprived, Social Justice Ireland tells Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Future of the European Union.
A study conducted by SJI, shows that while there should be no net reduction in tax in Budget 2018, the impact of some proposals currently being considered would be what it called “profoundly unfair” because they favour only those with higher incomes.
The private sector will never build social housing units on the scale required.
“We need consistent monitoring to ensure that we really get to the crux of this issue and stop more families from becoming homeless in the first place” – Focus Ireland.
“Budget 2018 should be designed so that it is both economically sound and socially fair. These twin objectives are both realistic and achievable. However, they need to be underpinned by a clear policy commitment to achieving both” – Dr Seán Healy.
Most people want to see reductions in healthcare waiting lists, increases in social housing provision and reliable high-speed broadband across rural Ireland. To achieve this means there should be no net tax cuts in Budget 2018 – Social Justice Ireland.
“Over 100,000 people are currently working part-time hours, but would take full-time employment if they could find it.”
“Ireland in 2016 has the resources to implement a basic income system,” says Fr Seán Healy.
“This level of population ageing will be associated with higher levels of disability and long-term ill-health and now is the time for planning and investment.”
Investing €400m on rural broadband would have better impact on productivity than tax cuts.
SJI warns that 18 percent of adults living in poverty in Ireland are employed - the “working poor”.
Social Justice Ireland argue investment will yield significant returns in terms of both employment and productivity, and will also address two of the largest infrastructural deficits in Ireland today.
Peace and security policies were at the centre of the debate of the spring plenary assembly of COMECE's bishops in Brussels.
SVP head of social justice calls for adequate income supports and good quality public services such as housing, education and energy.
Proposed tax could generate up to €320m a year and could help address the housing crisis, child poverty, or the effects of climate change.
230,000 children are at risk of poverty – up 12,000 in a single year warns Social Justice Ireland.
“We are focusing far too much on the performance of the economy and not nearly enough on issues such as aging, social housing and sustainability" - Dr Seán Healy.
With over 200,000 unemployed, the Government must respect individuals who start businesses and incentivise them says Irish economist.
“This is not the time for tax cuts. All available resources should be used to address Ireland’s major deficits in areas such as caring, housing and poverty."
