Call to maintain Combat Poverty's independence

AN OIREACHTAS Committee yesterday called on Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin not to proceed with a recommendation to integrate the Combat Poverty Agency into her department.

The future of the Combat Poverty Agency - a statutory organisation responsible for advising the Government on policies to reduce poverty in Ireland - has been in question following a Government review of the organisation.

The agency has often been critical of the lack of effective Government action to target poverty.

In recent weeks, a review of the organisation recommended that the agency be merged within the Office for Social Inclusion which is located in the Department of Social and Family Affairs. However, the agency says such a move would end its independence and hinder its work with communities and non-governmental organisations.

Following a meeting with the agency yesterday, members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social and Family Affairs voted unanimously to safeguard the independence of the organisation.

In a motion, members called on the Minister to relocate the agency within the National Economic and Social Development Office. This is an advisory body to the Government that incorporates well-established agencies such as the National Economic and Social Council.

Among the Oireachtas members who supported the motion were: the committee's vice chair, Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O'Connor; Thomas Byrne (FF); Fine Gael TDs Catherine Byrne, Seymour Crawford and Olwyn Enright; Labour TD Róisín Shortall and Senators Martin Brady (FF), Nicky McFadden (FG) and Rónán Mullen (Ind).

A spokeswoman for the Minister confirmed the review was still under consideration, but that no decision had been made.

Speaking following the meeting, Kevin O'Kelly, Combat Poverty's acting director, said he was very happy with the committee's decision.

"It's our view that the steering group's recommendation would undermine the structures that are in place to tackle poverty in Ireland," he said.