Core values ignored

Action needed to counter inequality if we are to exit economic recession. By Siobhan O’Donoghue.

Irish society remains deeply unequal despite massive wealth creation during the Celtic tiger years. It is estimated that a mere 5% of the population hold 40% of the wealth in Ireland. 

Discrimination as experienced by women, black and minority ethnic people  including travellers, older people, young people, lesbian, gay and transgendered people, lone parents, carers, people with a disability, people from minority religions, and people who are socio-economically disadvantaged continues to be a reality. At the height of the boom it was reported that 12.5% of the adult population reported experiencing discrimination.

Women continue to experience widespread pregnancy-related discrimination, a significant gender pay gap and under-representation in all political arenas.

Prejudice and discrimination become even more pronounced during a recession. Attitudes can harden and there can be less acceptance of diversity. In such a context particular groups in society become increasingly vulnerable to discrimination.

Current government policy is not addressing these issues. In fact it is exacerbating the problems.

The effects of government expenditure cuts are not shared equally by everyone. Groups experiencing inequality are bearing the brunt of the hardship. For example in education children with a disability, children requiring language supports, children with delayed learning are being further marginalised as cuts to vital educational services are imposed. The decrease in social welfare payments and the threat posed to the minimum wage are deepening socio-economic divides and impact more severely on groups such as lone parents, older people, people with disabilities, women and children.

Equality policies are being shelved and cuts have been made in equality budgets. The National Action Plan against Racism has been discontinued and the Carers Strategy has not even been published. The National Women’s Strategy has been stalled until recently. The Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission have experienced savage cutbacks and the Combat Poverty Agency has been abolished.

The pursuit of equality has traditionally been led by the community sector. What has recently emerged is hostility from government towards the community sector, both locally and nationally. This is evident in efforts to limit and minimise the sector’s work to promote equality in favour of limiting its work to local service delivery. This is reflected most acutely in the decision to abolish the Community Development Programme. Communities experiencing inequality and disadvantage need a strong community sector or their voice is not heard and bad policy goes unchallenged.

Equality is being viewed as a luxury by the government. In a context of growing inequality they appear to hold the view that equality has gone too far.

Equality should in fact be a central plank to any response to economic recession. This is important not only for those who experience inequality and discrimination but for all of society. Evidence shows that more equal societies do better in every way. Where equality exists there are lower levels of stress and higher levels of community trust. The overall health of the population improves, especially mental health. Communities are more cohesive and crime is less of a problem. Educational attainment is higher and social mobility more evident. Drug use, obesity and violence all decrease. 

The Community Platform has promoted a number of recommendations that would contribute to a more equal society. Socio-economic status needs to be included as a protected ground within equality legislation. Revamped equality legislation should require state bodies to proactively advance equality in terms of access to resources (redistribution), freedom from discrimination and a valuing of diversity (recognition), participation in decision making (representation) and access to relationships of care and solidarity (respect).  

A new statutory institution should be established that expands on the functions and powers of both the now dismantled Combat Poverty Agency and the Equality Authority which has been rendered unviable. Equality mainstreaming where all policies and programmes are assessed for their impact on equality and inclusion should be implemented and accorded new resources. This could build on and significantly improve current approaches to Poverty Impact Assessment.  

The National Women’s Strategy should be fully implemented, the National Action Plan Against Racism should be replaced, and the National Carers Strategy should be published. A Positive Ageing Strategy should be implemented, the provisions of the Disability Act should be implemented and further expanded, and traveller accommodation plans should be fully implemented. The care infrastructure for children, older people and people with disabilities should be expanded with significant job creation in these fields.

A funding programme for an independent national and local community sector should be established. This should be focused on the participation and empowerment of communities experiencing poverty, inequality and social exclusion and should address the structural nature of inequality and poverty.

Equality of outcome now needs to be established as a policy goal for government. This would reflect an ambition that goes beyond the creation of illusory opportunities to ensuring real change in the situation of groups and individuals experiencing inequality and disadvantage. This will not be achieved simply by appealing to the better nature and good will of society. Leadership from, commitment by and solidarity between all those advocating for social change will be critical to achieving this vision. This is a vision that will benefit almost everyone in Irish society. It is a vision that will enable a more effective exit from economic recession.

The Community Platform is made up of a network of 29 national networks and organisations working to address poverty, social exclusion and inequality. Community Platform members comprise: ATD 4th World, Age Action, Community Action Network, Community Workers Co-operative, Cairde, EAPN (Ireland), Focus Ireland, Gay & Lesbian Equality Network, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Irish Association of Older People, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, Irish Penal Reform Trust, Irish Refugee Council, Irish Rural Link, Irish Traveller Movement, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, National Adult Literacy Agency, National Network of Women’s Refuges & Support Services, National Traveller Women’s Forum, National Women’s Council of Ireland, Older Women’s Network, OPEN, Pavee Point, Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Simon Communities of Ireland, Threshold, Voluntary Drug Treatment Network, Vincentian Partnership for Justice, Women’s Aid.