European Anti Poverty Network Ireland » Policy Submissions

EAPN Ireland Submission on new Human Rights and Equality Commission

mbyrne — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:06:18 +0000

The Government is planning the emalgamating of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission and creating a new Human Rights and Equality Commission. The EAPN Ireland Submission highlights the importance of ensuring a strong remit for the new Commission across both the equality and human rights dimensions. The independence of the new Commission must be protected and it must be adequately resourced to carry out its remit. Read the submission.

Budget 2012 – Submission

mbyrne — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:22:39 +0000

This Pre-Budget 2012 Submission has been presented by the EAPN Irleand Europe 2012 Working Group. It focuses on proposals on access to adequate income for those dependant on social welfare supports and those who are low paid and how the Government should develop its approach to supporting people into meaningful training and employment. It also includes proposal for assessing the poverty impact of policies, including the budget. Membership of the EAPN Ireland Working Group includes Age Action Ireland, Congress Centres Network, Disability Federation of Ireland, Dublin Employment Pact, EAPN Ireland, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, Irish Traveller Movement, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, National Adult Literacy Agency, National Youth Council of Ireland, National Women’s Council of Ireland, One Family, OPEN and SIPTU. Download Publication

Submission to the Government’s Jobs Initiative

mbyrne — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:28:33 +0000

The EAPN Ireland Europe 2020 Working Group has made a submission to the Government’s Jobs Initiative. The Submission presents some key principles and makes a number of specific proposals which would ensure that the Jobs Initiative addresses the needs of those most distant from jobs and in low paid employment. It also highlights that the Jobs Initiative and other Government initiatives to address growth and the economy must be consistent with their commitment to address poverty, social exclusion and inequality.

To view the submission, click here.

EAPN Ireland submission to the Independent Review of ERO and REA Wage Setting Mechanisms

mbyrne — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 11:05:45 +0000

This submission addresses misperceptions regarding the position of Ireland’s minimum wage arrangements in a comparative EU context; the link between driving down wages and increasing poverty in Ireland; the negative implications for wage reduction for economic growth; and well as the central role of participation in decision making and the importance of social dialogue in that regard.

Any cut to the minimum wages set under the EROs will have will further reduce the household incomes of the lowest paid workers already struggling to make ends meet for their families. This will increase the numbers of ‘working poor’ and make it harder for people to escape poverty through securing decent work

It is not possible rebuild an economy while damaging our society. The economic costs of the social damage will undermine Ireland’s long term recovery.

Download our policy submission

EAPN Ireland Policy Briefing: 2020 Strategy & Targets

mbyrne — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:17:33 +0000

In June of this year, the European Council (i.e. the combined heads of state) agreed on Europe 2020 – A European Strategy for Smart Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. This 10 year Strategy replaces the Lisbon Strategy (commonly referred to as the Lisbon Agenda), which ran from 2000-2010. Employment continues to be a central concern of this new strategy. Financial stability and the importance of Member States reducing their budget deficits is a further concern arising from the economic crisis. Poverty and social inclusion is another priority area, although EAPN Ireland has considerable concern in the context of how that priority will be developed and implemented. This Update outlines the main developments within the strategy.

Download our policy briefing

EAPN Ireland Publishes Report from Building Social Europe Conference

mbyrne — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:06:40 +0000

The European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) organised an international conference in Dublin to further its vision for the legacy of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, in the context of the EU’s priorities for the next decade. The objective of this conference was to present concrete proposals for building a social Europe with the capacity to end poverty and social exclusion, and make a real difference to the 85 million Europeans who live everyday at risk of poverty.

The conference set out to:

1. Take stock of the European Union’s contribution to ending poverty and social exclusion.
2. Take forward EAPN’s proposals for improving the social dimension of the EU 2020 strategy.
3. Provide an opportunity for a range of stakeholders, including people experiencing poverty,
to input on how the legacy of the Year should be realised.

You can download the conference report here. Please note that the report is an interactive pdf, the links are ‘live’ and the navigation bar on the right panel will assist you in accessing particular sections.

Briefing for Oireachtas Members on Poverty 25% Reduction Target

mbyrne — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:27:46 +0000

On the 3rd March 2010 the European Commission proposed an EU target to reduce poverty by 25% by 2020. The target was one of five headline targets set out in the new Europe 2020 strategy for ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’. The inclusion of that target is now in doubt. EAPN Ireland is lobbying Oireachtas members and decision makers to ensure that Ireland puts forward a robust defence of the target. The Irish Government has yet to take a position on the target. EAPN Ireland will be meeting with Government representatives and opposition spokespeople in the coming weeks.

Download Briefing for Oireachtas Members

EAPN Ireland Briefing on the Future of the EU Social Inclusion Strategy

mbyrne — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:53:13 +0000

The briefing looks back to the evolution and development of the strategy and looks ahead to the potential opportunities and challenges with in Europe 2020, the roadmap for social, economic and environmental development in the EU over the next decade.

Download Publication

EAPN Ireland Submission to European Commission Working Document “Consultations on the Future EU 2020 Strategy”

mbyrne — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:45:13 +0000

A submission from EAPN Ireland to the Commission Working Document on a ‘Consultation on the Future ‘EU2020 Strategy’. The submission highlights a number of key areas that need to be addressed as part of a post 2010 strategy to highlight poverty and inequality.

Download Publication

Submission to the NCCA on Politics and Society Post-Primary Subject

mbyrne — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:28:13 +0000

Download Submission