The challenge to political parties in the run-up to the next general election would be to set out clearly their vision of an Ireland where wealth-creation and their priorities for spending that wealth could be sustained, the Combat Poverty Agency conference was told.
Mr Fintan Farrell, policy worker with the Irish Traveller Movement, said that the next election would be "a key moment for developing a political vision for the future direction of Irish society".
He said: "Investment in public service provision, the objectives of such investment and the commitment to address poverty and inequality within that investment should be a central part of the political debate leading to the election."
Mr Farrell said that the conference could contribute to the arguments needed to win electoral support for narrowing the gap between rich and poor.
The level of public service provision in Ireland was inadequate and out of line with other EU countries, he said. Government spending on public services such as housing and health had fallen by 13 per cent in the past 15 years as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product.
Despite increased wealth, there was inadequate investment in education, childcare, public housing and accommodation, health services, public transport, recreational, sporting and cultural facilities.
"The absence of such public services has a particularly negative effect on the quality of life for people likely to experience poverty or inequality, including families with children, those dependent on social welfare, the low-paid, young people, older people and those living in rural isolation or urban deprivation."
Mr Farrell said that if the State was to achieve a high level of public service provision the challenge was to value this investment over and above tax cuts.