The Society of St Vincent de Paul has hit out at suggestions that social welfare payments should be cut in order to rein in public spending.
A report issued earlier this week by Goodbody stockbrokers said it could be possible to cut welfare payments without reducing their real value in light of the falling cost of living.
But the president of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Mairéad Bushnell said she was "appalled at the naivety and ignorance" shown by the stockbroking firm of the reality of life for those dependent on welfare.
She said people living on social welfare spend a significant part of their income on the basics such as food, energy, education, health, which have levels of inflation above the consumer price index.
"Far from making the poor pay for this mess, it's time for Ireland to take a serious look at what kind of country we want our children to inherit: is it one where cold economics, rampant capitalism and remote Government holds sway or where real people really matter?" Ms Bushnell said.
"The people now losing their jobs and joining the 850,000 people who were already living in or on the very edge of poverty did not cause the crisis Ireland is in right now.
"Indeed, it could be said that much of the older generation now barely getting by on the State pension and the thousands of low paid – and vulnerable – workers now losing their jobs were the basis of much of the economic success of recent years" she said.
Ms Bushnell said that the Society - which spent €50 million assisting vulnerable people last year - will resist any attempts to reduce welfare payments.
The Goodbody report says social welfare spending is "too big to ignored" and a projected drop in the consumer price index could allow for welfare payments to be cut, without affecting their value.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has insisted that basic social welfare payments will not be cut and has pledged that the Government's priority will be on protecting the most vulnerable.
