Charlie McCreevy has no excuses for not opening the purse strings for social spending as a result of the findings of the latest Irish Times/MRBI opinion poll.
The electorate's concern for the common good comes through strongly in this survey. Rather than giving priority to tax cuts to increase their own standards of living, voters have told the Government to spend money on social areas such as health, education and housing.
In responses which would cheer Sean Healy and the Conference of Religious in Ireland, voters from all strata and political parties favoured the creation of a more equitable society. In addition, they questioned the way in which social partnership agreements were structured in the past, because of a perceived failure to reduce the gap between rich and poor.
There was no doubting the level of support for social partnership. About 50 per cent of those surveyed felt it was "very important" and 28 per cent regarded it as "quite important". In contrast, only 8 per cent said it was "not particularly important" or "not at all important".
The highest level of support for social partnership was forthcoming in the most economically-developed regions. More than three out of four voters in Dublin, the rest of Leinster and Munster said such agreements were "very" or "quite" important. But this figure fell to 70 per cent in Connacht-Ulster. Middle-class voters were most committed, at 80 per cent.
In spite of such overwhelming support, however, one in three of those surveyed felt agreements had increased the gap between rich and poor, while a further 44 per cent said they had made no difference in creating a more equitable society. ail and middle-class voters, took the view that partnership arrangements had closed the gap.
As the Government prepares to publish its spending estimates for the year 2000, the electorate signalled clearly that increases in Exchequer revenues should be used to pay for health, education, housing and other social services. Taking the first three choices of voters together, 88 per cent of those surveyed opted for improved public services, as against using the money to develop infrastructure, cut taxes or reduce the national debt.
In that regard, 90 per cent of women opted for increased social spending, compared with 85 per cent of men. And there was broad agreement on the issue across all political parties and social classes.
Development of the State's infrastructure was the second most important priority, with 70 per cent of those surveyed listing it as their first, second or third choice. The national plan, due to be published in 10 days or so, is likely to give effect to this desire. The need for increased infrastructural spending is consistently recognised across all parties, social classes and regions.
The continuing political debate about reductions in income-tax rates will be given oxygen by these findings. And the composition of Charlie McCreevy's Budget on December 1st might be affected.
In terms of spending priorities, 62 per cent advocated a reduction in the standard income-tax rate of 24 per cent (as one of their first three choices). But only 45 per cent supported a cut in the top tax rate of 46 per cent.
As might be expected, a higher proportion of working-class respondents, at 64 per cent, favoured a reduction in the lower tax rate, as against 57 per cent of middle-class voters. But support for such a development exceeded 60 per cent across all political parties.
A cut in the higher rate of income tax found most favour among Progressive Democrat voters, at 57 per cent. The comparable figure among supporters of Fianna Fail was 48 per cent, Labour 43 per cent and Fine Gael 38 per cent. Sectional interest was also apparent, with 50 per cent of middle-class voters favouring such a development, as against 43 per cent of workingclass respondents.
Finally, the opinion poll signalled the demise of the national debt as a hot political issue. Only 35 per cent of those surveyed listed reduction of the national debt among their top three priorities.
More significantly, the figure was 31 per cent for Progressive Democrat supporters, people who had once made control of the national debt their political raison d'etre.
In contrast, 35 per cent of Fianna Fail and 36 per cent of Fine Gael supporters listed reduction of the national debt in their first three choices.
There is certainly a message there for Mr McCreevy.