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Inequality ‘fuelling division and political polarisation,’ human rights watchdog warns

Report says successive governments failed to tackle crises in health, housing, poverty and the cost of living. Stock image

Shane Phelan (/)

Today at 02:30

Many people in Ireland lack basic resources to live with dignity despite wider economic prosperity, according to a damning
report sent to the United Nations by the country’s human rights watchdog.

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) report hits out at the failure by successive governments to tackle
crises in health, housing, poverty and the cost of living, claiming this has fuelled division and political polarisation, negatively
impacting social cohesion.

The report, a submission to the UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, said the State had continually failed
to address the root causes of enduring crises, resorting instead to short-term, emergency and temporary measures. The
document is a devastating critique of government policies and will come as a negative “report card” ahead of upcoming local
and European elections.

In the submission, IHREC called for “a paradigm shift” in the State’s approach to economic, social and cultural rights if it is to
eradicate poverty, build up public service provision and better respond to the needs of vulnerable communities.

A key concern cited was the increasing responsibility that community and voluntary sector organisations have had to take for
the provision of basic services such as food banks, hospice care, early childhood care and education and disability support.

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The human rights watchdog also told the UN that Ireland’s healthcare system had severe capacity issues at every level, resulting
in shortages in primary, community and hospital care, inpatient and outpatient appointments, scheduled procedures and
emergency services.

“The State is failing to allocate resources in a way that ensures the availability of services as a right, rather than contingent on
ability to pay,” it said.

“The result is a system in crisis, with concerning health inequalities for lower income households and structurally vulnerable
groups.”

The UN committee will take the report into account in its monitoring of Ireland’s compliance with the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a multi-lateral treaty ratified by Ireland in 1989.

IHREC warned inequality in Ireland would impact on the country’s resilience in the face of emerging challenges such as
climate change and artificial intelligence. Another major concern cited was social exclusion due to lack of adequate public
transport links, common recreational spaces and quality public services.

The submission also claimed there had been an “alarming lack of progress” on UN recommendations from 2015 in relation to
the improving access to affordable, quality housing.

“This has caused, and continues to cause, serious deprivation for many,” it said. The submission recommended a significant
scaling up of supply of public and social housing to match current and future need, and also that a referendum be held
proposing the insertion of the right to housing into the Constitution.

IHREC also hit out at what it described as “stigmatising discourse” around social welfare by politicians and public officials. It
said social welfare was framed as “charity” as opposed to an entitlement and a right.

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