Social Justice Ireland Briefing for meeting with Troika - October 22, 2012 - FULL TEXT

Social Justice Ireland met the IMF/ECB/EC 'troika' on Monday, October 17, 2011. We presented them with a Briefing document setting out a fully-costed set of proposals which would see the terms of the Bailout Agreement met but which would ensure that poor and vulnerable people were not further burdened

There are two major issues we address in this Briefing for the 

‘Troika’. These are: 1. The selective use of data by Troika organisations which is leading to inaccurate analysis which in turn is producing inappropriate policy recommendations for Ireland.

2. Budget 2013 with a particular focus on showing how choices can be made that would reduce borrowing in 2013 by €3.5bn while protecting the vulnerable and creating jobs. 

On Data, Analysis and Policy Proposals Selective use of data by 

‘Troika’ members in the analysis and documentation they have produced recently is leading to inaccurate analysis which in turn is leading to inappropriate policy proposals being made. This is totally unacceptable. The ‘Troika’s analysis sets most of the parameters for the Irish Government’s decisions on the Budget and other key areas of policy. So it is crucially important that the analysis is as accurate as possible. 

On the poverty rate An example of this unacceptable process in practice can be seen in the analysis provided on poverty. 

This analysis states that poverty fell between 2006 and 2010. What this statement hides is the fact that poverty fell in the period 2006-2008 but has been rising since then. 

The Full Document can ber accessed here