Economic boom makes people arrogant

IRELAND’S economic boom is making people “selfish and arrogant”, a Government minister warned yesterday

Social and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan told the Accord conference in Cavan that the nation had always prided itself on its humanity and decency and the new challenge was to retain these traits. He told his audience in Ballyconnell: “Economic, social and cultural success does not cure all ills - it comes at a price. Ireland must now face up to new pressures and fresh challenges - what you could call the problems of swift and remarkable success. I am struck, for example, by how many Irish people are increasingly displaying what I view as selfishness, impatience and, even, an arrogance.”

The minister said the current generation will be judged on how it harnesses the economic success to improve the quality of life for everybody. How the wealth is distributed among children, the elderly and disadvantaged groups will be the test, he added.