Casting your vote on June 5

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Casting your vote : together we  can* make a difference

One Family has worked and lobbied on behalf of one-parent families for 35 years.  Many of the issues we’ve fought for in the past have become basic rights in Ireland but there is still a long way to go.  Life for many one-parent families remains a battle to overcome prejudice, pressures and poverty.

can* One Family’s Campaigning and Advocacy Network brings together those who want to make Ireland a place where one-parent families no longer face inequality, poverty or discrimination and where all one-parent families can access their basic human rights.  The network includes nearly 1000 members of one-parent families, those who work with them and those who care about the rights of one-parent families.

Questions that can* members might ask candidates in the forthcoming Elections June 5 2009:

A. European Parliament Candidates

  1. If elected what will you do to raise the issue of high rates of poverty and poor level of services for one-parent families in the European parliament? Is this a priority for you?
  2. What will you do to ensure that the EU policy of ‘active inclusion’ is vigorously pursued in Ireland ? (This involves ensuring that groups such as lone parents have access to an adequate income, appropriate services and access to innovative programmes to support their participation in the labour market)
  3. Do you believe that the definition of the family in the constitution should be changed to reflect the definition used in international conventions, such as the European Convention on Human Rights? (Currently only the marital family is recognised in the Irish constitution).
  4. Will you campaign for additional resources to be allocated to families experiencing marital and relationship breakdown?

B. Dáil By-elections

  1. What is your party going to do to reduce poverty among one-parent families? Is this a priority for you?
  2. What plans have you to remove the poverty traps that currently prevent lone parents moving into quality employment?
  3. What will you do if elected to ensure that lone parents in your constituency can access suitable education and training and childcare?
  4. Will you support proposals to allocate additional resources to families experiencing marital and relationship breakdown?

C. Local Council Candidates

  1. How will you work to ensure that the housing needs of one-parent families are adequately addressed in this area?
  2. What do you plan to do to ensure that children in the local area have access to adequate early school education, quality childcare and to good recreational and play facilities?
  3. How do you plan to support lone parents in this area to access appropriate education and training?
  4. Will you support calls for the provision of additional services for families in this area, including the development of family and children contact centres where children and parents can meet in safe and suitable locations if other options are not available?