Report highlights widening poverty gap

A socio-economic review published by the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) today highlights the continued divide between rich and poor in Ireland.

CORI’s Justice Commission review says the "Celtic Tiger" economic boom of recent years has failed to be distributed equally throughout Irish society, with the rich getting richer and the most disadvantaged being largely untouched by the prosperity.

The report, An Agenda for Fairnesssays although Ireland is seen as one of the great economic success stories of the late 20th Century, the reality for the country's poorest is very different, with the proportion of people and households with incomes below the poverty line still growing.

It says Ireland’s infrastructure and social provision are far below most EU levels, despite the fact that it has a per capita income above the EU average.

This is due, the report claims, to recent budgets and the tax regime in Ireland, which collects less per capita than other EU members. "This is seen as a virtue to be protected at all costs".

The report calls for a major public debate on the issue, aimed at creating a "fair society that balances economic development, social equity and sustainability".

"Fairness does not emerge spontaneously or automatically," the report said. "It has to be worked for and developed in concrete policy initiatives rooted in a strategy that acknowledges that fairness is a desired outcome".

CORI represents over 135 religious organisations with 12,000 members throughout Ireland. It works to promote justice within society and cooperation between different religious orders and denominations.