European Union's Recommendations for Ireland


EU CSR

On May 20th the European Commission published a “Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the 2020 National Reform Programme of Ireland and delivering a Council opinion on the 2020 Stability Programme of Ireland” which is available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1591891847037&uri=CELEX:52020DC0507

On page two of this document they note “Continued action is required to limit and control the spread of the pandemic, strengthen the resilience of the national health systems, mitigate the socio-economic consequences through supportive measures for business and households and to ensure adequate health and safety conditions at the workplace with a view to resuming economic activity.”

Later on they say “The socio-economic consequences of the pandemic are likely to be unevenly distributed across regions due to different specialisation patterns. This entails a substantial risk of widening regional disparities within Ireland.”

On the measures the Irish Government introduced to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 the Commission notes “Although these measures aim to abate the economic shock of the pandemic, the risk of significant output loss, bankruptcies and insolvencies, and an increase in unemployment and people at risk of poverty, remain high.”

On page six they say that “The relatively high number of people living in households with low work intensity calls for further efforts to foster individualised activation strategies. The challenges facing Ireland in regard to poverty and employment quality and support, including for people with disabilities, remain and they are likely to be exacerbated by the pandemic.”

Later on they note “In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to ensure that the digitisation of education and work does not increase educational and social inequalities.”

Given the acknowledgement of these structural inequalities facing Ireland, it is disappointing that their redress is not carried forward more strongly into the four Country Specific Recommendations (CSR).

CSR 2 calls on Ireland to take action to “Support employment through developing skills. Address the risk of digital divide, including in the education sector.” COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated that the digital divide already exists: ranging from a lack of good quality broadband to inadequate equipment to insufficient skills to unsuitable living arrangements to questions of affordability.

However, it is welcome that included within CSR 1 and 2 are calls to:

-         “Improve accessibility of the health system and strengthen its resilience, including by responding to health workforce’s needs and ensuring universal coverage to primary care.”

-        “Increase the provision of social and affordable housing.”