Poor wrongly hit by ‘faulty logic’

FLAWED analysis and faulty logic on the part of the Government has resulted in poor people being wrongly hit by swingeing budget cuts, according to a social justice organisation.

In its annual socio-economic review, Social Justice Ireland argues that the Government failed to acknowledge that improvements in social welfare rates in the mid-2000s were simply a partial “catch-up” for people who had been left far behind while others gained in the preceding years.

The group said this “flawed analysis” was combined with a “faulty logic” that justified targeting poor people without realising they were far less able to absorb the hits heaped on them.

The review claims that at least 90,000 of those employed in Ireland are at risk of poverty — what it terms the “working poor”.

However, instead of helping the working poor in the last Budget, the review outlines how the Government hit these households in six different ways by reducing their income or increasing their costs, especially for households with children.

* The “working poor” were put into the tax net.

* The introduction of Universal Social Charge which the working poor must pay.

* A reduction in Child Benefit payments.

* Increased charges for some services.

* The introduction of new charges for services that had been free up to then.

* A reduction in the minimum wage. (The Government has ordered this to be reversed.)

Director of Social Justice Ireland Fr Seán Healy called on the Government to reverse what it has called the “unjust” conditions those in poverty are living in.

“As a result, the working poor and people depending on social welfare payments have been left without sufficient resources to live life with dignity because of Government’s actions. This situation is unjust, unfair and unacceptable and should be reversed,” he said.

The 254-page review argues there should be a fair sharing of responsibility that requires individuals and institutions (public and private) to be accountable for the consequences of their actions or omissions.

“As resources are scarce, it is important that there be a fair sharing of responsibility in shouldering the burden of Ireland’s recovery,” said Fr Healy.

“To date the burden placed on Ireland’s poor people, including the working poor is unjust, unfair and unacceptable.”

The Social Justice Ireland director said the claim that everyone should make a contribution to the adjustment required to get Ireland back to prosperity was only “half true” and that people should only have to contribute what they can.

“We reject any attempt to solve Ireland’s problems by increasing inequality or by forcing the most vulnerable members of the population into a situation where they do not have the resources to live life with dignity,” he said.