Community alliance warns of 'injustice' in fiscal approach

A “SERIOUS underlying injustice” is emerging in the Government’s approach to resolving the fiscal crisis, a spokesman for the Community and Voluntary Pillar has said.

Ahead of a meeting this afternoon between the social justice group and both Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin, Ivan Cooper said the Government must outline how it intended to protect the vulnerable in the forthcoming budget and avoid a “decimation of public services”.

The 17-member group – among which are Social Justice Ireland, the Children’s Rights Alliance, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Senior Citizens Parliament – said the Government’s focus had moved from one of protecting the vulnerable enunciated in April’s mini-budget, to “a simplistic over-focus on spending cuts” since publication of the McCarthy report.

“Of enormous concern is the sense that there may be moves to cut welfare payments,” said Mr Cooper yesterday. “We will be saying welfare payments must be left as they are.”

The CV Pillar will be pressing the Taoiseach to consider its five-point strategy for recovery, which focuses on increasing the tax take and improving value for money.

Firstly, it says the tax take should be “deepened and broadened”, not through income tax increases but by ending a number of the more expensive tax-breaks.

Secondly, the Government should secure better value for money in the public service by eliminating wasteful practices and expenditures as identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Thirdly, said Mr Cooper, the pillar suggested there was “a clear need for reform in the public sector”. This could avoid pay cuts in the sector, though it may mean redundancies.

“We recognise expenditure cuts will be required but we have got to ensure the vulnerable are not hammered by them. At an absolute minimum we will be calling on the Government to carry out a review of the impact of any proposed cuts on individual users of the public sector. There is a need to ensure individuals are not severely hit by an unco-ordinated series of cuts.”

The pillar will also demand that any capital spending that does proceed creates the maximum common good.

A spokeswoman for Ms Hanafin said there was no agenda for today’s Government Buildings meeting, but discussions would take place on necessary spending cuts.

Separately the farming pillar will meet the Taoiseach tomorrow with Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith.