Category Archives: Uncategorized

Press release – Budget 2019

On the eve of Budget 2019, a network of 28 national organisations in the community and voluntary sector is reminding the Government that the Budget must move Ireland towards achieving its national and international commitments to ending poverty, reducing inequality and creating a more sustainable future for everyone. These commitments are made under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the European Pillar of Social Rights and a range of national strategies including the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion.

Press Release: Launch of “Equal Right to Health for all”

People Living in Poverty die younger

The United National Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of themselves and their family”. However, this right is being denied to people living in poverty and social exclusion. The urgent call to address this denial of human rights was made by the Community Platform which today launches its public awareness campaign entitled “Equal right to health for all”.

On Universal Health Coverage Day the Community Platform, a network of 27 national organisations working together to address poverty and inequality, has produced a leaflet and poster which highlight the worse levels of health for people living in disadvantaged areas and those experiencing poverty, social exclusion and inequality.

Download the Leaflet and Poster

Four Tests for the New Government

Test 1: Will the Government redistribute income towards the poorest 20% of the population?

Test 2: Will the Government strengthen access to quality employment?

Test 3: Will the Government restore and strengthen public services which are of particular importance to people on low income?

Test 4: Will the Government support mechanisms to ensure that all areas of policy and decisions work to reduce poverty and inequality?

Paying our way: Proposals for a progressive tax system

Ireland has the fourth lowest tax take as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product in the European Union. As a society we have come to expect western European levels of social and economic development yet are only willing to pay eastern European levels of taxation. As our recent economic collapse has demonstrated this contradiction is no longer sustainable.