Welcome to the November 2024 EAPN Ireland NewsFlash.

EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network) Ireland is a network of anti-poverty groups working to put the eradication of poverty at the top of the EU and Irish agenda through information, training, advocacy and networking. Web: www.eapn.ie 

This month, we are focusing on General Election 2024, which will take place on Friday 29 November. Read on for more General Election news from EAPN Ireland and our members organisations and alliances, including: 

• EAPN Ireland’s General Election Manifesto; 
• Manifestos from some of EAPN Ireland’s member organisations;
• The Community Platform Manifesto for the General Election.

To learn more about our work, and to keep up to date, please visit our website, or follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, or Instagram.

EAPN IRELAND GENERAL ELECTION MANIFESTO 2024 Poverty is a human rights violation and ending poverty is a political choice. The EAPN Ireland General Election Manifesto 2024 was shared with candidates and parties in advance of the announcement of General Election 2024. It sets out our priorities for the next Government, and outlines a range of commitments we are calling on all candidates and political parties to adopt, and to deliver should they form the next Government.   We need to know we are voting for candidates and parties that are serious about addressing poverty, social exclusion and inequality. We are calling on the next Government to commit to eradicating, not just alleviating, poverty. Priority must be given to addressing the root causes of poverty, social exclusion and inequality. This can only be achieved in any effective way through the implementation of a genuinely integrated strategy across all Government policy, which addresses the multidimensional nature of poverty.   This means a real Government commitment to ensuring everyone in Ireland has access to an adequate income, to affordable and quality essential services, and to decent jobs. This also means maintaining and building a sustainable, progressive and redistributive tax system – not hollowing it out. It must also involve proofing all relevant policy for its impact on poverty and giving an effective and meaningful voice to people experiencing poverty in how policies are developed and implemented. Read the full EAPN Ireland General Election Manifesto HERE.

EAPN IRELAND MEMBER MANIFESTOS Below are the General Election Manifestos, campaigns and materials of EAPN Ireland member organisations, which were available at time of writing: Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) DFI has launched its General Election Campaign 2024, calling on candidates to commit to disability inclusion in policy, legislation and communities. Focus Ireland Focus Ireland has published its policy proposals for General Election Manifestos, What can political parties say about homelessness that will really make a difference? Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) The ICTU General Election Manifesto focuses on ensuring clear commitments are included in the manifestos and programmes of political parties and independent candidates to promote collective bargaining if they form part of or support the next Government. Irish National Organisations of the Unemployed (INOU) The INOU General Election Manifesto covers a range of key issues for the organisation, and calls on all political parties and people standing for election to support particular measures and address the barriers facing people who are unemployed. Irish Refugee Council The Irish Refugee Council are members of a coalition of 22 organisations which has published Civil Society Manifesto Recommendations on International Protection, calling for protection of the rights and dignity of refugees and people seeking asylum. National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) NALA has published its Manifesto, Our General Election Asks for Adult Literacy. It contains seven asks for political parties in this general election. These asks cover plain language, literacy programmes and literacy policy. National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) The National Women’s Council General Election Manifesto presents a feminist vision for an Ireland that advances women’s equality and protects women’s rights. NWC are calling on all general election candidates to demonstrate their commitment to women and equality by supporting ten key manifesto asks, including childcare, violence against women, and universal healthcare (including reproductive rights) – issues that top the agenda for many women. The NWC Feminist Communities for Climate Justice Network have created a set of election asks with feminist climate justice at their core – climate action that takes note of existing inequalities and leaves no community behind. Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre Pave Point has published its Manifesto Considerations: Election 2024/2025, calling on election candidates to make Traveller and Roma human rights and equality a Government priority, and to ensure an Ireland free from racism and discrimination, where all Travellers and Roma can fully realise their potential and participate as fully respected members of minority ethnic groups. Simon Communities of Ireland The Simon Communities of Ireland Manifesto, Working to End Homelessness by 2030, outlines proposals for the next Government under three pillars: 1. Supporting Exits Out of Homelessness; 2. Actions to Prevent Homelessness; 3. Supporting People Experiencing Homelessness. It also calls on the next Government to prioritise the ambition of the current 2030 target and making considerable progress on the housing and homelessness crisis. The Wheel The Wheel’s General Election Manifesto calls on candidates to put community first, to support inclusion and cohesion, and to prioritise social investment and infrastructure. It also calls for the next Programme for Government to lay the groundwork for a plan that supports society, the environment, and the economy, and for the incoming government to recognise and champion the indispensable role of the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.

COMMUNITY PLATFORM MANIFESTO FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION

The Community Platform Manifesto for the General Election focuses on proposals under the following four key areas, which it is asking all political parties and candidates to address:

1. The eradication of poverty
2. The delivery of a universal Public System of Early Childhood Education and Care
3. The implementation of an effective model of collaborative governance
4. The creation of inclusive, resilient, sustainable and empowered communities

These priorities are rooted in the values of dignity, social and economic justice, equality, solidarity, social and economic inclusion, sustainability, participation, and transparency which the Platform calls on all election candidates and political parties to uphold.

The Platform also calls on all candidates and parties to conduct their campaigns in a way that promotes respect for all and does not incite hatred or prejudice on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, ‘race’ (including skin colour, nationality, ethnicity), religion, membership of the Traveller Community, or socio-economic status.

Go to the Community Platform’s General Election Hub

EAPN Ireland, Carmichael House, 4 Brunswick Street North, Dublin, D07 RHA8, Ireland
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 8745737   /  +353 (0)87 6402200
EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network) Ireland is a network of anti-poverty groups working to put the eradication of poverty at the top of the EU and Irish agenda through information, training, advocacy and networking. Web: www.eapn.ie