Vol. 499 No. 3
107 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent call from the former President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Declan Costello, for the amendment of the Constitution to guarantee explicitly the social and economic rights of the underprivileged; if he will introduce this amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24582/98]
I am aware of the call made by the former President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Declan Costello, for a constitutional amendment.
Concern for the rights of the underprivileged, and a commitment to tackling the problems they have to face, are already a major part of Government policy. In the Government programme An Action Programme for the Millennium the Government has pledged itself to achieving a socially inclusive society. In addition, the Government is fully committed to the implementation of the recommendations and targets of the national anti-poverty strategy. This strategy recognises that poverty and disadvantage experienced by the underprivileged is multi-dimensional and requires solutions that transcend sectoral Departmental responses. The strategy has also set out clear targets to address problems in the five key areas of educational disadvantage, unemployment, income adequacy, disadvantaged urban areas and rural poverty.
In this context, the Government has introduced a system of poverty proofing across Government Departments to ensure that, for the first time, the rights and difficulties of the poor and socially excluded are considered during the formation of significant policy proposals.
Furthermore, in the last two budgets, this Government has allocated significant funds to a range of social inclusion measures, way beyond that required by Partnership 2000 commitments, and has initiated a wide range of programmes aimed at improving the position of the disadvantaged. This Government will continue on this path of seeking a more inclusive society where all individuals can aim to reach their potential and where barriers to such achievement are ultimately removed.
