Sir, – The findings contained in Understanding Life in Ireland: The Well-being Framework 2023, which seeks to provide a more holistic way of thinking, and discussed in the editorial “The Irish Times view on wealth inequality: a stark and persistent gap” (June 13th), are a reminder of the inadequacy of GDP as measure of societal progress. Instruments like the Wellbeing Framework, on which Understanding Life in Ireland is based, and the UN-led Sustainable Development Goals, provide a more meaningful understanding of societal well-being. But these frameworks cannot be seen as nice to have add-ons, something for governments to pay lip service to at moments through the year. If they are to mean anything, they need to be hardwired into the State decision-making process.
Next month, Ireland goes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit in New York to account for its progress on the goals. It is Coalition 2030′s view that progress on the Sustainable Development Goals is being held back by the State’s inability to reach the people furthest behind in Irish society, a view confirmed by the findings in Understanding Life in Ireland. Until instruments like the Well-being Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals are moved to the centre of policy-making processes, swathes of people will continue to be left behind in Irish society, even while GDP continues to grow. – Yours, etc,
MEAGHAN CARMODY,
Coalition
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Dublin 7.