• (1) Child poverty
• (2) Access to quality work and learning opportunities
• (3) Access to services – with a particular focus on older people
• (4) People with Disabilities, and an additional theme exploring poverty and social exclusion in the Gaeltacht (to be held through Irish).

Date & Location: 28th September, Mill Park Hotel, The Mullins, Donegal Town

The project partners are keen to ensure that as many people experiencing the issues as possible are involved in the seminars and would be glad to work with you to ensure this. To register your interest in the seminars, or for further information, contact 2010@cwc.ie

• Download diary notice
• Download registration form

From these initial discussions a wider range of civil society organisations cooperated to organise this event. These organisations include trade unions, environmental groups, community groups, migrant worker organisations, youth groups, older people’s organisations, cultural groups, student groups, developing world groups, rural networks, women’s organisations, disability groups, social media and social justice organisations. We aim to have a thousand people at the event drawn from all parts of civil society and from all corners of Ireland. The event is planned to provide an opportunity to discuss and deliberate on:

• The values that we share and espouse.
• The implications of these values for new policy choices.
• New ways of cooperating and coordinating across civil society to advance these values and policy choices.

Local meetings and activities are being planned throughout the country in the lead up to this event. If you are interested in getting involved in the event and in the local initiatives please get in touch with the organisers through www.claimingourfuture.ie or download pdf brochure

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Twelve expert contributors – including representatives from civil society, academia, politics and the civil service – assess the impact of the European Social Inclusion Strategy in Ireland, and set out a roadmap for how European policy can be leveraged to tackle poverty at national level, leading to a fairer and more equal society.

You can download a pdf of the book here. If you’d like to order a hard copy, please contact Mark Byrne at mark@eapn.ie or on (01) 874 5737. Copies are free but we do ask that you cover the postage and packaging,

“The over 14% of Irish people living in poverty and those who are increasingly drifting into long term unemployment have few advocates and little power.  The infrastructure of services and organisations supporting people in poverty is fragile and over-burdened. Despite that fragility, the infrastructure that does exist has been seriously diminished by disproportionate cuts to vital community supports,” said Mr. O’Connor.

Mr. O’Connor made his remarks at a launch of a book commemorating twenty years of the European Anti Poverty Network Ireland. The new book, Ireland and the European Social Inclusion Strategy: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead, reflects on the substantial progress made in tackling poverty and social exclusion in Ireland over that period, while also acknowledging that even at the height of Ireland’s economic success, there remained very significant problems for people at risk of poverty including access to services, increased income inequality and access to the labour market.  The book also sets out a vision for a European Union that serves people and society ahead of powerful economic lobby groups.

Thirteen expert contributors – including representatives from civil society, academia, politics, and the civil service – assess the impact of the European Social Inclusion Strategy in Ireland – in which Ireland was once to the fore – and set out a roadmap for how European policy can be leveraged to tackle poverty at national level, leading to a fairer and more equal society.

Welcoming newly appointed Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey TD – who launched the book –  Mr. O’Connor encouraged the Minister to take stock of the many positive initiatives and policies that were implemented by successive governments over the last decade.

“It is important to recognise that while many issues were unresolved at the outset of the recession; considerable progress was made in tackling poverty and social exclusion in this country through imaginative and effective policies. That progress did not happen in a vacuum, but as a result of genuine dialogue and partnership between the government, civil society and marginalised individuals and groups. It is also important to remember – as this book attests – that two decades of progress in tackling poverty began in the eighties, a period in which we faced challenges just as serious as those today. That proves that it is not just a question of money, but rather of political commitment to the poorest in society,” said Mr. O’Connor.

Note to editors:

• Ireland and the European Social Inclusion Strategy: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead will be launched by Pat Carey TD, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs at Wynn’s Hotel, Lower Abbey Street, at 5pm on 1^st July 2010. All welcome.
• Speakers will include Minister Carey (Irish Government), Philip O’Connor (Chairperson EAPN Ireland), and Fintan Farrell (Director of EAPN Europe).
• Copies of the book are available from EAPN Ireland of from www.eapn.ie

For more information or to arrange interviews contact:

Paul Ginnell

Policy and Support Officer

European Anti Poverty Network Ireland

(01) 874 5737 / 087 640 2200

Speakers include Minister Pat Carey TD (Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs) and Fintan Farrell (Director of European Anti-Poverty Network Secretariat).

Date: 1st July 2010

Time: 5pm

Location: Wynn’s Hotel, 35-39 Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1

Light refreshments will be served and all are welcome. RSVP to enquiries@eapn.ie and download the invitation.

Paul Ginnell, policy officer with EAPN Ireland said: “Today is a good day for Europe and the agreement represents an important political commitment to the 85 million people across the European Union who live in poverty.”

However, Mr. Ginnell warned that the objective will be doomed to failure unless member states – including Ireland – present concrete proposals for tackling poverty at national level.

“If Ireland is serious about reducing poverty then signing up to this objective is only the first step; a marked shift in policy and decision making is required. Nearly 620,000 Irish people live at risk of poverty, further cuts to their incomes, and cuts to community and social investment will rapidly reverse recent progress in reducing poverty in Ireland. At a recent TASC roundtable, it was stated that current deflationary policies are pushing the poor and the marginalised ever closer to the edge. Aside from the devastating effects to individuals and communities at risk of poverty, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests such policies will depress the economy further. We need a new departure in policy making, one that prioritises a fair and equitable tax system, increased social investment, and a renewed emphasis on tackling poverty and inequality” said Mr. Ginnell

The European Anti-Poverty Network has sent a letter to all European heads of state, outlining four key demands:

1. Take urgent action to prevent the increase of poverty and social exclusion by increasing social investment and strengthening social protection systems and public services.
2. Support an ambitious European Poverty Reduction Target and strengthen that commitment with national targets and strategies to reduce poverty and social exclusion.
3. Ensure that social objectives are mainstreamed throughout the Europe 2020 strategy. The stubborn and obsessive focus on growth and jobs in the last ten year plan from the EU is now widely recognised to have failed.
4. Embed and support active partnership with civil society organisations from the start. Civil society, NGOs and the community sector have the capacity and experience to implement strategies that will lift individuals and communities out of poverty.

The European Council will today decide on key elements of Europe 2020 – the EU’s new strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The proposal from the recent Employment and Social Affairs Council of an EU target to reduce poverty and social exclusion by 20 million by 2020, based on an aggregate indicator (at risk of poverty, material deprivation and jobless households) will be central to the discussion at the Council.

ENDS –

i In the EU people falling below 60% of median income are said to be “at-risk-of poverty”. The median line is the middle (not the average) income. According to the Survey on Income and Living Conditions, the median weekly income is €388.07, and so the poverty line is €232.84.

For more information contact:

Mark Byrne

Communications Officer

European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland

22 Great Strand Street

Dublin 1

www.eapn.ie

01-8745737 / 0877587922

You can download our member briefing on the event here.