The Justice Commission of the Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) has called for "a major public debate on how Ireland intends to develop a fair society".
In Agenda for Fairness, its socio-economic review for 2002, it says: "Fairness does not emerge spontaneously or automatically. It has to be worked for and developed in concrete policy initiatives rooted in a strategy that acknowledges that fairness is a desired outcome." It says it is a major paradox that while Ireland has a per-capita income well above the EU average, its infrastructure and social provision if far below the EU average.
"At the same time, Ireland's tax-take is far below the EU average and this is seen as a virtue to be protected at all costs," it says.
It asks: "Is Ireland satisfied to continue with levels of infrastructure and social provision well below the EU average and live with the lower quality of life that accompanies such lower levels of provision?"
It acknowledges the "many positive developments" of recent years but said the gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically.
"More than 70 per cent of those living in poverty are living in households headed by a person who is not in the labour force," it says.
They were people who were ill, had a disability or were retired. The strategy that saw a job as the best poverty fighter was of little relevance to them, it says.