Women and the Women’s Council hit by unfair budget
Published: Monday, December 05, 2011
The government says it set out to be fair – in fact women and children will bear the brunt of this budget. Meanwhile, the voice representing women's groups in Ireland, the National Women's Council of Ireland, has had its funding slashed by 35%.
The combination of the measures announced by Minister of Finance Michael Noonan today on taxation and the public expenditure cuts announced yesterday, clearly show that the those experiencing poverty and inequality are paying for Ireland's deficit. Over 60% of the savings in the Budget were made from Public expenditure cuts, which have severely effected lone parents and large families. While there have been some welcome measures in the Budget, through maintaining the social welfare rates, the Pre-School year for all children, universality of Child Benefit and increasing the threshold for the Universal Social Charge, the overall impact is bad for some of Ireland's most vulnerable people.
It is also very unclear what the impact of the cuts to the Health Budget will have, however it is difficult to envisage how a cut of up to 800million will not negatively effect those who need the public health services the most – women and children.
The National Women's Council of Ireland advocated alongside many non governmental organisations that the majority of 3.8 billion should have been made up by taxation on the wealthier sections of society, through the introduction of a third rate of tax and through a wealth tax on all assets. The Government instead chose to raise only €1billion through taxation. The increase in indirect taxes through the flat rate property tax, increases in the carbon tax and Vat will negatively effect those families struggling to survive. The promise of the Government to protect the most vulnerable has not been kept in Budget 2012.
We all on you, the general public, to voice your outrage over this cut to Minister Shatter and lend us your support.
Click here to send a signed letter to the Minister asking him to reconsider such drastic cuts..