Government representatives have spent two days at the UN in Geneva explaining and defending policy decisions affecting low -income families and disadvantaged and minority groups. A collapse in State income after 2008 – involving two governments – brought reduced services and lower living standards. But, as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Seán Sherlock ingeniously told the UN committee, social protection spending rose by a third as a proportion of the Government budget during that period. Increased funding, however, reflected higher rates of unemployment while welfare recipients experienced reductions in benefits.
Criticisms of government came from Emily Logan of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, who maintained fiscal consolidation had taken priority over human rights, resulting in family poverty and high youth unemployment. Other NGO representatives complained about inadequate social and affordable housing and discrimination against Travellers, among other issues. It was the first time in more than a decade that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights had reviewed Ireland's performance under a covenant that provides for "rights" in relation to work, education, health, housing and social security. Ireland ratified it in 1987 but declined to adopt a subsequent protocol that would have allowed individuals to take judicial action to vindicate rights. This, according to an Irish official, was because of "resource implications".
Successive governments have attempted to provide basic levels of care in difficult times, even as they refused to enshrine the UN covenant in law. The job of this UN committee is to exert pressure on member governments to fulfil their obligations by identifying political and administrative failings. No formal sanctions are available, other than the ability to “name and shame” governments through issuing “observations”. That facility tends to promote a positive response among the convention’s 164 members. Ireland, now in economic recovery, can do much better.