Tackling the crisis in the public finances shouldn't require the destruction of social infrastructure or social services according to Fr Seán Healy, S.M.A., Director of CORI Justice. Speaking at the AGM of the Cork Branch of the IMPACT trade union on Tuesday, Fr Healy said that "a balanced and fair approach to the present crisis” was needed if Ireland was to benefit from the global economic recovery whenever it occurs.
In his address to more than 300 delegates attending the AGM he acknowledged that the current crisis was “one of the most difficult situations that Irish society has had to face”.
However, he insisted that the brunt of pain of any adjustments “should not be borne by the vulnerable”.
He pointed out that, while the number of people in poverty fell by 100,000 over the three most recent years for which statistics are available “the Celtic Tiger failed to deliver infrastructure, services or wellbeing on the scale required”.
Responding to Government claims that a shortfall totalling €16.5bn had to be made up by 2013, he said that a reduction of this scale “would require drastic reductions in public services”.
He noted that “much of the focus in public debate has been on reducing public expenditure”.
However, he added that the Government needed to look at expanding its tax base, which he claimed was “low by EU standards”. He suggested that Ireland’s tax base could be broadened and the total tax take could be raised to a level that is 1.5 per cent below the EU-average.
“This would still keep our taxation competitive compared to the rest of Europe and it would also provide two-thirds of the adjustments sought by Government over the period to 2013”, Fr Healy said. This could be done without raising income tax or corporation tax, he added.
It was essential, Fr Healy went on, to maintain social services at their current level, as Irish people did not want to see these reduced.
Meanwhile, Sr Marianne O'Connor OSU, Director General of CORI, said that the organisation exists to “give a voice to the voiceless”. Responding to criticism by Fr Tony Flannery in the Irish Times last week, Sr O'Connor said that CORI entered into debate, but retained its ability to critique other opinions.
But she defended CORI's participation in social partnership which Fr Flannery had criticised, saying that their participation enabled them to make necessary changes.
It was, she went on, “far more effective if one is at the table arguing for the changes required”.
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(Source: CIN)