I believe Ireland, a wealthy country, is generally a good place to live, but things have become more fractious recently. While economic difference may only be part of the overall story, it is a relevant factor nonetheless. It strikes me that a failure to take bold steps to narrow the gap between those who are thriving and those who are barely surviving will have the effect of continuing to drive a wedge deep into the heart of our society and further undermine the sense of social cohesion, upon which our trust in the common good rests.
It is worth recalling that this year, the State surpassed the threshold of 4,000 children in the living in homelessness.
The figure was over 4,400 in June.
Recently, as I walked back to the city centre after the Coldplay concert in Croke Park, I came across a homeless person sleeping in a sleeping bag underneath the shadow of the James Connolly memorial around the corner from the Custom House. While I know nothing of that individual’s personal circumstances, the sad irony was inescapable. Is this the august destiny to which we were called?
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I believe Ireland, a wealthy country, is generally a good place to live, but things have become more fractious recently. While economic difference may only be part of the overall story, it is a relevant factor nonetheless. It strikes me that a failure to take bold steps to narrow the gap between those who are thriving and those who are barely surviving, will have the effect of continuing to drive a wedge deep into the heart of our society and further undermine the sense of social cohesion, upon which our trust in the common good rests.
The fact that the introduction of the residential zoned land tax was delayed three years after it was initially legislated for (does it take more than three years to work out a system that differentiates actively farmed land from hoarded land?) suggests to me a lack of administrative impetus to sufficiently grasp the nettle and drive the necessary bold change.
Instead, with an election looming, the Government seems convinced of the merit of pursuing €1.4 billion in largely untargeted tax cuts, including on inheritance tax , which defy the advice of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, which argues that such measures would be merely inflationary, and thus put further pressure on the already hardest pressed. Is it any wonder why people seem increasingly cynical and and less trusting in political institutions?
While self-interested short-term thinking might help re-election chances, how much will it really improve things for those who are struggling to meet the basics? Or are some children of the nation worth cherishing more than others? – Is mise,
JAMES McELEARNEY,
Donacarney,
Co Meath.