How do Irish Vincentians speak up for the marginalized?

John-Mark McCafferty is Head of Social Justice and Policy with the National Office of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP). He leads and coordinates the policy and advocacy work of SVP and informs and shapes national debate on issues such as Incomes, energy and water policy, financial inclusion, housing and homelessness and international issues.

John-Mark also represented SVP during the Social Partnership programmes and was a National Economic and Social Council (NESC) member from 2003 to 2007. He holds a Masters in Development Studies in UCD, and has worked for Government agencies such as the Combat Poverty Agency and Scottish Homes, the national housing agency.

More about the general work of the Society from You Tube in Ireland.

Sample blog posts…

SVP Asks European Election Candidates to Make a ‘Stand for Justice’ at Dublin Hustings on May 1st
It doesn’t feel like the first of May out there, but today – or more specifically, tonight – is when we in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul come together with our colleagues in Trocaire and Social Justice Ireland to ask European election candidates in the Dublin constituency to make a pledge.

Budget 2014 attacks young people
For most people in receipt of social welfare, Government kept its promise of not cutting weekly social welfare payments. That’s a welcome result of our campaign for fairness in Budget 2014. But that promise doesn’t cover everyone. Young people are being penalised by the social welfare system at a time when there simply are not enough jobs for the multitude of people applying for each vacancy; and at a time when almost 30% of young people are unable to find work.

A Cause for Celebration?
I’m 40 today – or at least on the day this blog went live. Colleagues marked it with cake, coffee and kind words, which were greatly appreciated. The occasion punctuated an otherwise routine office day – if such a thing exists in SVP.

Working on a Domestic Matter for 170 Years
The representatives listened, but concluded at each meeting that they were interested primarily in deficit reduction and structural reform. Budget measures pursued by the Irish Government, which may cause hardship to people we assist, were exactly that –a domestic matter and not something that the Troika had strong opinions on nor intervened in.

How is income shared in Ireland?
In Ireland, half of all households have a disposable income of less than €35,000 annually, with one third having a disposable income of less than €26,000, or €500 per week.