As the Deputy is aware, at the UN World Summit for Social Development in 1955, the Irish Government agreed a programme of action geared not only to eliminating absolute poverty in the developing world but to a substantial reduction of overall poverty and inequalities everywhere. For Ireland, this will require the development of a coherent and targeted anti-poverty strategy, placing poverty and inequality issues firmly at the heart of national policy-making with the aim of developing a more inclusive and just society.
The strategy is being developed by a high level interdepartmental policy committee. In keeping with the commitment in A Government of Renewal to extend the opportunities for democratic participation by citizens in all aspects of public life, the committee is providing for consultation with and the participation of those affected by social exclusion through their representative organisations.
The interdepartmental committee has been charged with preparing a report which will form part of the National Report for the United Nations, to be completed before the end of 1996, to demonstrate national progress in implementing the UN Commitment.