EU to ask about cuts to the Equality Authority

The Irish Times are reporting that the European Parliament’s petitions committee is to write to the Government to ask about cutbacks at the Equality Authority following claims that Ireland is not in compliance with European law because of funding and staff cuts.

The Equality and Rights Alliance made an oral submission to the committee yesterday based on a written submission it made last September. The submission claims the authority’s effectiveness has been “significantly impaired and its independence undermined” due to cuts.

The alliance is a coalition of 140 civil society groups and activists concerned about the erosion of equality, poverty and human rights issues. It includes groups such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the European Anti-Poverty Network.

The Green Party support these cuts. The Green Party also support other cuts to the poorest and most disadvantaged in our society which are highlighted elsewhere in this blog. I'm not sure how the Greens in Government can sleep at night to be honest. But then I suppose it's easy to sleep when you have a huge ministerial salary, expenses and pension package. And when you have sold so many of your principles that there is nothing left to sacriface ...