Irish people should not allow the Government to reduce the numbers of people receiving rent allowance, according to the US activist and author Michael Moore.
The man behind the best-selling book, Stupid White Men and the Oscar-winning documentary film Bowling for Columbine was speaking at the Irish launch of his latest book, Dude, Where's my Country? He is working on a new documentary, that he said he was calling Fahrenheit 9/11. In a wide-ranging speech to a sold-out audience at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Dublin, on Saturday, he spoke about the US-led war in Iraq, the situation in Northern Ireland and the upcoming US presidential election. He said he believed this country should not follow America's lead when it comes to formulating social policy.
He found it very sad, he said, that in recent years, Ireland seemed to be becoming more like the US in its "every man for himself" attitude to the least well-off and most vulnerable in its society.
"I read that the Government wants to cut the numbers receiving rent supplements," he said. "My question to you, who are allowing their Government to snip away at the social safety net, is: why would you do that?"
According to the author, however, one of the main reasons for his week-long tour of the UK was to be the "advance man" for President Bush, who arrives there tomorrow on an official state visit.
"They want to show George Bush as the world statesman. You've got to go there and mess up the photo-opportunity."
A vocal opponent of the war in Iraq, Mr Moore restated his belief that the reasons given by Mr Bush and British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair for the war had proven to be false. He also called for the immediate withdrawal of US and British troops, to be replaced by UN soldiers.
However, Mr Moore was interrupted more than once when talking of his support for a woman's right to choose abortion. He acknowledged some people would disagree with his view, but said he was grateful he could find common ground with these people on other issues.