Our General Election Manifesto 2024

Oxfam Ireland calls for a humane, rights-based approach.

As we approach Ireland’s 2024 General Election, Oxfam Ireland calls for a transformative vision rooted in human dignity, equality, and justice. Our manifesto presents a roadmap for a humane, rights-based approach across six critical areas: Migration, Care, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Wealth Tax, Climate, and Gender Justice.

Migration

Oxfam Ireland urges the next Irish government to adopt a humane, rights-based approach to migration, addressing root issues of inequality and supporting Ireland’s commitments to international human rights.

We ask for:

Human Rights Compliance: Implement the EU Pact with full respect for human rights.
Independent Border Monitoring: Advocate for effective and independent monitoring at EU borders to prevent rights abuses.
Opposition to Externalisation: Resist EU initiatives that outsource migration control to non-EU countries.
Support and Expand Resettlement: Resource the Irish Refugee Protection Programme to meet and increase Ireland’s pledges to resettle refugees, offering safer alternatives for those seeking protection.
Investment in Reception Facilities: Ensure that Ireland’s reception centres maintain full compliance with human rights standards.
ODA Integrity: The Irish State should actively work to ensure that EU Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds are used for genuine development goals rather than funding migration management.

Care

We are calling for urgent action on care policies to create a fairer and more equitable society.

We ask for:

Recognition of the value of care work: We want a shift in perspective that recognises care work as vital labour contributing to the overall economy and society.
Reduce the burden of unpaid care work: We advocate for increased investment in public services and infrastructure.
Redistribute care equitably: We support policies that encourage men to take on a fairer share of care work, such as equal parental leave and workplace flexibility

The Occupied Palestinian Territory

Oxfam Ireland advocates for justice, human rights, and adherence to international law regarding the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including the West Bank and Gaza.

We ask for:

Occupied Territories Bill: We urge Ireland to pass the Occupied Territories Bill at the earliest opportunity.
Enhanced Controls on Air Cargo: We propose introducing new controls that permit random inspections of cargo on flights passing through Irish airspace. This would ensure that goods potentially originating from illegal settlements do not enter Ireland or other European markets via Ireland.
Suspension of the EU-Israel Trade Agreement: This agreement currently enables preferential trade terms for Israel within the EU.
Support for Local Aid Organisations: We recommend that Ireland provide direct funding to local organisations working on the ground.
Funding for Reconstruction: With severe infrastructure damage across Gaza and the West Bank, we urge Ireland to contribute to a long-term reconstruction plan.

Wealth Tax

We are calling on the Irish government to properly tax wealth and collaborate to close the loopholes for tax avoidance internationally. Three firms contributed 43% of corporation tax in 2022.

We ask for:

A flat rate of 1.5% on all net wealth above €4.6 million or a progressive tax of 2% on net wealth above €4.6 million, 3% on net wealth above €46 million and 5% on wealth above €923 million. Oxfam estimates that such a tax, if fully implemented, could yield over €4 billion a year for the Irish exchequer.
Implement the recommendations of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare: These are reforms to the tax and welfare code agreed by the Government's own commission in 2022 which the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council have calculated could yield €15 billion.
Introduce a windfall profits tax: The Irish government needs to expand on legislation to cover windfall profits from corporations in other sectors.
Greater transparency: With the establishment of a public register of beneficial ownership for companies, trusts, foundation and other assets.

Climate

Despite a 6.8% reduction in Ireland’s carbon emissions in 2023, further action is crucial. Research from the EPA underscores that Ireland’s current climate action plans are insufficient to meet our 2030 targets.

We ask for:

Polluter Pays Taxes: We call for the introduction of redistribution taxes on wealthy polluters.
Climate Finance: Ireland has committed to contributing €225 million annually towards climate finance, but this figure is far from enough. We urge the government to adopt a pathway to meet its fair share of €500 million per year.
Loss and Damage Funding: To mitigate the climate-related losses and damages faced by vulnerable communities.

Gender Justice

In 2024, less than a quarter of TDs are women (23.1%). Ireland has the sixth lowest rate of female participation in Lower House Parliaments across the EU27and is ranked 98th in the world.

Some of our asks:

Legislate a 40% quota for gender balance on all non-state Irish company boards.
Legislate for a quota system to be extended to local elections with an initial quota of 30% women’s representation in the Local Elections 2024.
Introduce an entitlement to maternity/adoptive leave for women councillors and women TDs.
Political parties and government departments should promote political participation and inclusion for women from all backgrounds, and invest in measures which will support this.
The government should promote and increase awareness of gender quotas as a management tool for progressing gender equality in Ireland through public information campaigns.