President Mary McAleese has rejected claims that Irish people have become selfish and preoccupied with consumerism.
Opening the new headquarters of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Dublin, the President said the organisation was a classic example of voluntary endeavour in thousands of spheres. "There isn't in any of it the remotest trace of exhibitionism or grandstanding."
She said commentators who attacked Irish society for being consumer-driven and unconcerned with the well-being of others were utterly disconnected with everyday life.
"I have been listening to some of the comments made lately about the changes in Ireland these past 20 years and I was astounded to hear one commentator assert that we have become so selfish and preoccupied with consumerism that no one does anything for anyone else any more. I know that to be untrue, and you know that to be untrue, and only someone utterly disconnected from the mainstream of everyday Irish life could believe it to be true."