The new Government should give priority to developing a fairer society which balances economic development, social equity and sustainability, CORI's Justice Commission has said.
The group said the benefits of economic growth were unfairly distributed over the past few years and this mistake should not be repeated again.
CORI spokesman Father Sean Healy said the Government's new programme contained several proposals which, if implemented, could make a substantial difference to Ireland's poorest people.
He welcomed the commitment in the programme to meeting the target contained in the revised National Anti-Poverty Strategy of raising the lowest social welfare payment to €150 a week (in 2002 terms) by 2007.
This was equivalent to 30 per cent gross average industrial earnings in 2002, he said.
"The reason why this is so important is the fact that more than 70 per cent of those living in poverty are living in households headed by a person who is not in the labour force. These households are headed by people who are ill or have a disability or are retired or on home duties. Consequently, the strategy that sees a job as the best poverty fighter is of little relevance in the new situation," said a CORI statement.
The statement added: "Irish society is faced with substantial opportunities, challenges and choices at this time. The challenge facing the new Government is to develop an agenda for fairness."