Motion no: 28
Recent figures show an increase in the levels of inequality, deprivation, relative and consistent poverty across Ireland. 5.5% of Ireland's population suffer consistent poverty. Levels of persistent poverty in Northern Ireland children is more than double that of Britain with 31% of the working age population without paid employment It is clear that high levels of unemployment, disability, lower wages, lack of access to services and Government cuts are directly contributing to this increase. The Irish and British Governments and NI Assembly have so called strategies and policies which aim to address poverty and social inclusion, ironically given that they essentially support an agenda of vicious cuts that impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in society. The cuts, they tell us, are necessary as there is not enough money in the coffers, yet neither the Irish or UK Government has made any real attempts to swell the coffers by changing tax laws to tackle the tax avoidance, evasions and abuses by multinational corporations. Ireland should no longer be used as a vehicle for complex international tax avoidance schemes, which remove billions from the economy and keeps the poor poor and the rich rich. This BDC calls on Conference to mount a campaign which: Raises awareness of tax evasion and avoidance and the impact it has on working people. Raises awareness of poverty and lack of social inclusion. Calls for legislative change to tax laws Highlights that closing the tax gap is a "better and fairer way".
