Researching the social security system + socio-economic rights. SL @UlsterUniSchLaw. @WIPlive alum. *Rights rather than charity* Views all my own.
Joined December 2010
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Are you missing out on NHS Healthy Start?
Many families in Northern Ireland are and we want to change that!
#NHSHealthyStart
@NHSHealthyStart
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
Sending some Brazilian warmth to a wet Monday in Ulster. Given your research, you might like this: since 2021 our Constitution says every Brazilian in social vulnerability has a right to a basic family income, and Bolsa Família is how that right reaches people. Your bio could hang on its front door ☀️🇧🇷
Watching jubilant scenes in Brazil is exactly what I needed on this wet, miserable, Monday morning. Amazing solidarity from everyday Brazilians who should feel so proud!!
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
Updating the below..
The gap between rents and support available through Local Housing Allowance is now at a record high (via @resfoundation)
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
Completely unsustainable and will cause deep and lasting damage to the regional economy
Time for @CArchibald_SF to engage with all stakeholders in post 16 education to address this urgent and catastrophic situation
Northern Ireland's universities are facing a "substantial" cut of £21m in the Stormont funding they receive to teach students.
bbc.in/4i7rrq9
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
We campaign to strengthen social security to ensure that people & families are protected from some of the harshest impacts of welfare reform.
We're calling on our political parties to commit to our 4 key asks - please sign & share our petition: my.actnowni.org/petitions/en…
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
We're proud to join @Food_Foundation & more than 100 orgs calling on the Government to extend Healthy Start to all families receiving Universal Credit until children turn 5 #HealthyStart #AutumnBudget
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
I had A levels and married at 20 ( just celebrated golden anniversary). I went to uni married with three children, couldn’t have considered a loan if fees applied. Came out with a PhD and a good job which most certainly improved our lives, and two of my three kids got degrees.
All of this from a very experienced former mentor to me and the PhD cohort I graduated with.
What is going to be the end of this? It's frightening to think about. I know that those of us left behind are not going to be able to hold the weight.
Personally, I am beyond my limits in terms of workload.
An indictment on the current working conditions @UlsterUni …
An indictment on the future of @StudyAtUlster painted by senior managers…
An indictment on the state of Higher Education in N.Ireland & working conditions in the sector…
irishnews.com/news/northern-…
Uptake in NI is lowest in the UK. During these tough times, our @niexecutive @healthdpt need to maximise the number of mums & children receiving Healthy Start.
🚨 𝟳𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 in households on #UniversalCredit are missing out on vital @NHSHealthyStart support due to the strict eligibility criteria.
So we're leading a coalition of 100+ organisations calling for @GOVUK to fix the scheme.
Show decision-makers every child deserves a Healthy Start by liking and sharing our new campaign video: youtube.com/watch?v=1pjw5b5e…
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
How many of these fabulous jobs available actually take people of benefits?
I mean all the moaning about the benefit bill yet no1 moans about the poor wages and universal credit subsidising employers profits.
5 tests - following 5 incompetent PMs.
Spare us the advice, Andrew.
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
£70bn welfare cut to fund defence would cost more than it saves. My forensic report using OBR/IMF shows welfare multiplier 1.3-1.6x - cut £70bn = £91bn GDP loss + ∼458k jobs (890k supported by £136bn welfare).
Austerity proved it: £10bn cuts 2010-19 saved £10bn but created £5bn NHS + £1.5bn TA + £2bn crime + 1% GDP loss = net fiscal loss. Cap saved £200m cost £1.5bn in temp accommodation.
Disabled face £1,095/mth extra costs vs max PIP £778/mth. PIP saves NHS £0.8bn + care £1.2bn. Cut it = bed-blocking £2bn, cold homes £1.4bn, 1.5m destitute.
There is £39.8bn tax gap/yr (£706.8bn cumulative) yielding £9 per £1 enforcement. That's where defence funding is without creating job deserts - we have 900k vacancies vs 5.7m seekers, 1 per 6.3, Gosport 14 per 1k vs Westminster 45.
Full: welfarefacts.org.uk/ARCHITEC…… Ch12, 9.5, 11.3
Then you have radio presenters asking whether poor people should prioritise food over a streaming subscription or having a phone. Yeah maybe - but it's likely that the subscription is the only form of entertainment they can access ffs. Those stigma filled questions do my head in.
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
🚨NEW🚨
Permanent Secretary backs Education Minister’s boycott order despite warning that it could be ‘unlawful’
The Education Minister and his top civil servant are remaining defiant that officials will not attend their scrutiny committee, even after a warning that those actions could be ‘unlawful’.
The education committee was previously given legal advice that if Paul Givan was to continue to uphold his boycott then it could be unlawful.
Under section 44(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 the committee has the power to call for persons or papers, creating a legal duty for them to be presented.
Committee members were advised that “if the minister were to direct a departmental official not to attend” then “this would be a breach of the Code of Conduct as this would be asking the departmental official to act in a way that would conflict with the Code of Ethics by directing unlawful behaviour”.
(Full story online).
Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick retweeted
New report published!
📒 This morning, we launched Poverty in Northern Ireland 2026, a state-of-the-nation, in-depth look at the current levels of poverty in Northern Ireland.
Our Head of NI Ursula explains some of the long-lasting impacts of poverty on children 🔽
