The Government has published its overdue response to the list of issues provided to them by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in relation to the third periodic report under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
As part of this reporting process FLAC submitted a civil society report, Our Voice, Our Rights, in October 2014 to the UN to ensure a complete picture is painted on the situation of economic, social and cultural rights in Ireland since 2002, the last time the State was examined under the international covenant. Over fifty organisations made submissions, attended consultations and met with FLAC to input accurate evidence-based information into the report. Civil society has a further opportunity to submit any other information to the UN by 8 May, a month in advance of the State examination in Geneva on 8 & 9 of June.
The Irish State provided responses to twenty-eight questions proposed by the Committee on the progress it has made to protect, respect and fulfil the rights contained in ICESCR. The State’s response provided information on areas such as education, health, social housing, National Minimum Wage, the system of direct provision, the rights of persons with disabilities and social protection.
Looking at the State response in more detail you will recognise a pattern of proposed strategies, plans, future investment and consultations for the most urgently needed socio-economic issues including social housing, childcare and the healthcare system. Although it is welcome to see moves in the right direction on some issues affecting the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, civil society and the Irish public cannot forget the series of detrimental actions in consecutive austerity budgets imposed by the State which undermined basic protections of human rights during the recession.
The UN will question the State in June on this very matter - how did it protect the most vulnerable in society when the Government had control of and made choices regarding public resources to influence the outcomes of people’s basic fundamental rights?