A/HRC/17/34/Add.2 11. The independent expert is concerned that recent budgetary cuts have affected the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC), the Equality Authority (the main statutory body tasked with monitoring the implementation of equality legislation7), the Ombudsman for Children and the National Disability Authority. These cuts have substantially reduced Ireland’s capacity to protect the most disempowered segments of Irish society at a time when they are particularly susceptible to violations of their rights, and will have a negative impact on their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights in the long-term. The Government should take all measures to provide these institutions with adequate resources to enable them to efficiently and effectively exercise their duties and functions, which become even more significant during times of crisis. 12. The independent expert is also concerned about the dismantling of the Combat Poverty Agency, which played a key role in increasing awareness and understanding of poverty, and influencing government policies. While this agency was integrated into the Social Inclusion Division of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Government must ensure that the full range of the agency’s functions is transferred to the new division. In particular, the dissolution of the agency should not result in a reduction in the availability of independent research and evaluation of Government policies. III. Poverty in Ireland 13. Since 1997, Ireland has been implementing a strategic approach to alleviating poverty and social exclusion. At the time of the independent expert’s visit, the strategy was guided by the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 (NAP Inclusion), the National Development Plan 2007-2013, and the National Social Partnership Agreement, “Towards 2016”. Together, these plans set out a coherent and comprehensive programme of action to address poverty and social exclusion, while concentrating on a small number of high-level goals targeting long-standing social problems using a life-cycle approach. The independent expert welcomes these comprehensive plans, which were prepared in consultation with social partners (particularly Towards 2016). While the independent expert acknowledges that these strategies may need to be adapted to take into account the worsening economic situation, she encourages the Government to ensure as a minimum that the 23 high-level goals of Towards 2016 continue to be the primary target for its policies. It is essential that significant progress in the implementation of these goals continues and is periodically measured, even if full implementation of the goals is delayed due to current financial constraints. 14. The independent expert based her assessment of Ireland on the concept of poverty used by the Government: “people are living in poverty if their income and resources (material, cultural and social) are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living which is regarded as acceptable by Irish society generally.”8 This definition refers to a relative concept of poverty that sets the threshold for assessment. Obviously, different countries have different levels of resources and their different circumstances must be taken into account when assessing efforts to combat existing levels of poverty and social exclusion. To assess compliance with economic, social and cultural rights obligations, the level of scrutiny for developed States, such as Ireland, is higher than for middle-income or low-income countries. 15. There are a number of indicators to measure progress in reducing poverty and social exclusion. The best known indicator at the European level is the “at risk of poverty” rate 7 8 Employment Equality Act (1998), Equal Status Act (2000), and Equality Act (2004). NAP Inclusion 2007-2016. 5