A/HRC/17/34/Add.2 ODA provision by further incorporating human rights principles into its policy guidelines and strategies. 41. The great value that Irish society accords to international development assistance is reflected in the considerable efforts to increase Ireland’s investments in ODA, which is now equivalent to 0.53 per cent of its gross national product (GNP).30 In light of the important contribution made by Irish Aid, it is unfortunate that there has been a reduction in the budgetary allocation to ODA.31 However, the independent expert welcomes the Government’s commitment to continue to work towards the achievement of 0.7 per cent ODA by 2015.32 V. Measures that pose a potential threat to the human rights of the most vulnerable 42. The independent expert recognizes the serious economic and financial difficulties that Ireland confronts at this time. However, these difficulties cannot be used as an excuse to disregard human rights obligations or prioritize other issues over the realization of human rights. The following measures may pose a specific threat to the enjoyment of human rights by the most vulnerable sectors of society. A. Eroding the social protection system 43. Ireland must be commended for its considerable efforts over the last decade to expand and improve the social protection system, which encompasses both contributory payments and non-contributory social assistance. From 2000 to 2009, total social welfare expenditure in Ireland increased more than three-fold. The beneficial impact of this on the prevalence of poverty and exclusion in Ireland is demonstrably clear: in 2009, social transfers decreased the number of people at risk of poverty by 69 per cent, and around one third of all people in Ireland were benefiting from some form of social transfer.33 44. The vital role that social protection systems play in facilitating the enjoyment of multiple economic, social and cultural rights has been detailed extensively by the independent expert in her previous reports,34 and the importance of comprehensive social protection systems in overcoming the impact of the global economic and financial crises is elaborated at length in the independent expert’s main report to the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/17/34). Reductions in the levels of social protection benefits will impede Ireland’s ability to comply with its legally binding human rights obligations. By undermining social protection, the Government limits the enjoyment of minimum levels of economic, social and cultural rights by all groups in society. 45. The independent expert welcomes the indication in the PGNR that the Government will not further reduce the level of social protection benefits. She also calls on the Government to review some of the previous cuts in social protection and to address some pre-existing features of the system that restrict the ability of the poor and disadvantaged to enjoy their human right to social security. Of utmost concern is the requirement that many beneficiaries of social transfers must be “habitually resident” in Ireland in order to qualify 30 31 32 33 34 Irish Aid, Annual Report 2009 – Focus on Poverty and Hunger, p. 5. NRP, p. 125; PGNR, p. 58. PGNR, p. 57. SILC 2009, pp. 5-6. See for example, A/HRC/11/9, A/HRC/14/31, A/64/279 and A/65/259. 11