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Ireland's political and cultural magazine
June 2015 27
future generations. Policy commitments should
include: effective environmental legislation including
climate legislation with ambitious binding targets; the
implementation of EU targets for reduction of emis-
sions and the provision of renewable energy; and
international co-operation to reduce and eliminate
unsustainable patterns of production and
consumption.
The Policy Principles need to look to
the achievement of equality for a
diversity of groups. Policies need to:
name economic, social and cultural
rights in the Constitution; secure an
effective implementation of the duty
on public bodies to have regard to the
need to eliminate discrimination, pro-
mote equality and protect human
rights; and implement equality budg-
eting at national level and in the work
of public-sector bodies.
Income equality should be advanced. The gender pay
gap should be reduced, basic social welfare levels
increased, and the poverty and deprivation levels expe-
rienced by lone parents addressed. Increased funding
should be provided to respond adequately to issues
such as: domestic and sexual violence against women;
comprehensive and affordable early years and after
school care infrastructure; independent living for
people with disabilities and closure of congregated set-
tings for people with intellectual disabilities; adequate
culturally appropriate accommodation for Travellers;
an end to direct provision for asylum seekers, and regu-
larisation for undocumented workers.
Cultural rights, global justice and issues of rural
decline should be included as new action areas. Com-
mitments should include: a national culture policy that
advances cultural rights, positions community arts at
the heart of cultural policy, and enables those experi-
encing poverty and inequality to be both consumers
and producers of arts and culture; a review of foreign
policy to enable it to better contribute to global justice
and increased aid budgets; and an investment plan to
reverse rural decline.
Water, the driving issue behind this initiative, could
yet prove its Achilles heel. The Policy Principles use-
fully seek investment in water and sanitation systems
and protection against privatization. There are issues
that will divide, however, in making a commitment to
ensuring a limited resource that is subject to ever
increasing demand is available ‘free at the point of use’.
Basic needs must be met in this way but unlimited
usage on these lines is problematic. •
Basic water
needs must
be met but
unlimited
usage is
problematic
“
I
S there a new politics in the offing? The trade unions
in the RightWater campaign published “Policy
Principles for a Progressive Irish Government” at
their Mayday event. They are reconvening the trade
union, political and community representatives that
attended with a view to developing these into a policy
platform. There is, however, much to be done to ensure
this initiative can embrace the full spectrum of civil
society including those working on issues of equality,
environmental sustainability, cultural rights, global
justice, and rural decline.
The Policy Principles start with the “RightWater”.
The prominence given to this issue is understandable
given the origins of this initiative, however, it stands
awkwardly in comparison to the scale of other issues.
The document reflects a significant and valuable broad-
ening of the campaign to include the “RightJobs &
Decent Work”, the “RightHousing”, the “Right-
Health”, the “RightEducation”, the “RightDebt
Justice”, and the “RightDemocratic Reform”.
The Policy Principles promote a Decent Work Act and
an end to low pay with the living wage eventually set as
the statutory floor. They commit to ending homeless-
ness and clearing social housing lists. They support a
universal health system free at the point of entry as well
as the reduction of student-teacher ratios, restoration
and increased provision of special needs assistants, and
investment in early childhood education. They call for a
European Debt Conference and a state-led programme
to restructure and write-down mortgage debt. They
seek a system of recall of people elected to the Oireach-
tas and a citizen power to call a referendum in relation
to legislation introduced by the Oireachtas.
This is a valuable start for a new politics. A progres-
sive taxation model is promised. This will be key in
ensuring a policy platform emerges that is credible. It
will need to: ensure a minimum effective corporate tax
rate; increase the rate of income tax on higher earnings
and increase effective income tax rates; and introduce a
wealth tax along with increased capital gains tax and
capital acquisitions tax.
The difficulties in the coalition building that could
create an effective new politics are evident in two sig-
nificant and overarching omissions. These are the
issues of climate change and environmental sustaina-
bility, and of inequality and diversity. A broader
engagement of environmental and community sector
organisations is needed. This should be addressed in
the June meeting. Claiming Our Future has put forward
proposals to further evolve the Policy Principles for a
more inclusive platform.
The Policy Principles need to look to the needs of
The Right2Water
principles are a
good start but need
to embrace equality
and sustainability
Right2ALittleMore
NIALL CROWLEY
