The Prime Time special on Carers has confirmed our worst fears, Ireland North & West MEP Marian Harkin claimed today (31 May), adding that the Government must urgently publish the existing Carers' Strategy devised but not implemented by the previous government.
The RTÉ Prime Time Investigates programme, screened on 30 May, found that over 82% of family carers have been adversely affected by cutbacks in vital State services.
In response, Harkin - a long-time advocate of Carers' rights - argued that "as I deal regularly with various Irish Carers Groups and Associations, I am acutely aware of the difficulties they face in this time of mindless austerity. I noted as early as last December that the previous government's decision to cut state supports for Carers was a 'careless mistake'".
The Independent MEP, who chairs the European Parliament's Carers Interest Group, has been striving to ensure that Carers and their vital contribution to society are adequately recognised and reflected in EU legislation.
"We have had some noteworthy recent successes," noted Harkin. "We succeeded in getting a hugely important reference to Carers included in a significant European Parliament Resolution," she noted, adding that the "specific mention of Carers in the 2011 EU budget means that there is a greater recognition of their important role across Europe".
The Ireland North & West MEP also noted that "in my ongoing work concerning EU legislation on 'Pension Reform' and 'Active and Healthy Ageing', I lobbied hard to have specific mentions of Carers included in the texts".
"However, while we are doing all we can at EU level to ensure that Carers are not forgotten but rather recognised and supported, the truth of the matter is that this remains a national competence. In other words, each Member State of the EU makes its own rules as to how it supports Carers. So while the work we do at EU level is undoubtedly important and has a positive impact, national governments remain the key interlocutor for Carers' rights," she said.
"As such, I believe it is crucial that Carers in Ireland lift up their voices and make it clear to the government that new and efficient strategies and support systems are needed as a matter of urgency. Without improved and vital state support for the work of Carers, our society will be a diminished one," argued the Independent MEP, concluding that "the previous government has a template in place, now it is up to this government to bring it into law".
For further info: see Press Marian's Press releases: Budget cut to Carers "a careless mistake" & Marian Hails Recognition of Carers in Key EU Resolution.
