Sir, - Brian Geoghegan's article "Enterprise approach the key to our success" (Opinion, February 22nd) raises an interesting point: during high-growth periods, especially in the case of Ireland today, is economic development simply a question of spreading the future growth of jobs, income, property values and wealth throughout the country? As a nation, should we be satisfied with our progress - more jobs, more spending power and more new cars?
I think we must be asking a different question: how do we balance fast growth with stable and measured development? How do we create a national awareness about the distribution of income, the conditions under which income is earned, the control of income and its production, not just its total level and its rate of growth?
Growth is a fine measure for those of us with 01 registrations, but it doesn't ensure economic vitality where all people are fully productive. Growth doesn't mean equality, where all people, regardless of race, gender, age, ethnicity or physical capacity, have an equitable shot at the necessities of life. Growth has nothing to do with quality, where an economy builds jobs that are needed by society and people are enjoying their lives, on and off the job.
Geoghegan is right: the economy is growing, but at what costs? Our streets are more violent and more crowded, we have a growing drug and alcohol problem among young people, our cities are filthy, young people can't afford to buy homes any more, people in wheelchairs still find it almost impossible to get a taxi, let alone a job. Travellers are uniformly discriminated against. I could go on and on.
Yes, the glass is half full and we should be proud of how far we have come. But let's remember, it is a harsh Celtic Tiger also. . .some of our neighbours aren't even holding a cup. What type of society are we growing? - Yours, etc.,
Neal Newman, CEO, Southside Partnership, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.