DAY-TO-DAY living expenses is the issue of greatest concern to men in Ireland today, according to the findings of an Irish Times/Behaviour Attitudes poll on men.
Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) say they are extremely or very concerned about having enough money to pay for day-to-day expenses. This level of worry is highest among men aged 25 to 44.
Men are also concerned about crime (62 per cent), the health service (56 per cent) and rising interest rates (54 per cent).
In contrast, issues such as personal health are among the issues of lowest concern, as well as the education system, the threat of international terrorism and childcare.
The opinion poll was conducted last month among a national quota sample of 1,000 men aged 18 and over, at 100 sampling points across the State.
To generate as accurate a measure as possible, respondents completed a face-to-face interview on general attitudes and filled in a written section on more sensitive moral and social issues themselves.
Financial independence emerges as the single most important issue in the lives of men in Ireland. A total of 97 per cent of men rank it as an important item in their lives, followed by being able to look after themselves (96 per cent), leisure time (91 per cent) and being able to look after their wife and children (83 per cent).
Issues such as fashion and feminism are among the least important topics in their lives. Overall, an overwhelming majority (87 per cent) of men say they are satisfied with their life as a whole and with their home life and state of health.
On the issue of jobs and money, most men (60 per cent) are satisfied with the security of their job.
However, there is a big division between younger and older men. Younger men are much more likely to feel insecure in their jobs or that they will be working abroad or in a different job in 10 years. Middle-aged and older men, on the other hand, are more likely to feel secure in their jobs and find it easier to make ends meet or spend money on themselves.
The poll shows the majority of men who have had direct experience of family courts feel they were treated unfairly.
Some 40 per cent feel they are treated unfairly by the family courts, compared to just 14 per cent who feel they are treated fairly. The remainder, 47 per cent, say they don’t know.
The proportion who feel they are treated unfairly rises to 60 per cent when the results only include men who say they, or their friends or relatives, have directly experienced the family courts in Ireland.
Men Today Poll: pages 10 and 11