The Government last night defended its record on poverty following the publication of a report from the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) showing that the gap between rich and poor widened between 1994 and 1997.
Opposition parties described the report as "disturbing" and a "damning indictment" of the Government's record on poverty. They called for measures to deal with inequalities in the forthcoming Budget.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, said research which had become available since the NESF report was prepared showed a continued decline in the number of people experiencing consistent poverty.
He said a report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on poverty data for 1998, to be published later this year, will show that very rapid economic growth since 1997 has led to a further significant fall in consistent poverty.
"It is expected that this will also lead to an improvement in Ireland's ranking among EU countries in terms of poverty," the Minister said.
Mr Ahern welcomed the NESF's report on progress implementing the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) and said the setting of revised and additional targets would be considered as a result.
In response to criticism in the report that last year's Budget was not poverty-proofed, Mr Ahern said the process was being reviewed by the National Economic and Social Council.
"We expect the results of this review later in the year, and their findings will further inform the development of the process," he said.
The Fine Gael spokeswoman on social affairs, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, said it was extremely disturbing that over 20 per cent of the population were living below the 50 per cent poverty line.
"It is equally disturbing to find that women are facing an increased risk of poverty and that Irish children have the highest rate of income poverty in the EU," she said.
The Government should raise the level of child benefit to children under five to £100 a month in the next Budget.
Ms Fitzgerald also accused the Government of failing to put women at the centre of its policymaking.
"It is absolutely disgraceful that at a time of plenty, this Government has failed to poverty-proof Budget 2000 and the National Development Plan.
"The current inflation is further deepening the inequalities in our society as those on low pay and fixed social welfare income are particularly vulnerable," Ms Fitzgerald said.
She called on the Government to announce how it intends to deal with these inequalities.
Instead of abusing its critics, the Government must act to deal with the serious inequalities highlighted in the NESF report, she said.
"The fruits of this economy must be used to create a just and equitable society."
The Labour Party spokesman on social and community affairs, Mr Tommy Broughan, described the report as a "damning indictment" of the Government's agenda.
"This is a damning judgment on this Government's record in office and on Minister Dermot Ahern in particular who has failed to advance the anti-poverty agenda in Government," he said.
Mr Broughan said the report's findings of a further widening of the gap between rich and poor were a cause for concern.
"What is most worrying is the fact that this Government seems to have no difficulties with this trend.
"Both the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste are on record as eulogising the American economic model over the European economic model.
"The US model is renowned for the inequality it generated. European countries like Denmark and Sweden are famous for low inequality levels."
Mr Broughan said the State spent less of its wealth providing social services than any other European country.
Consequently it had higher poverty levels, poorer services and poorer infrastructure.