Wealthy Ireland has cast aside values, campaigner says

IRELAND’S growing affluence has numbed and dulled society’s vision of the common good, a campaigner for the homeless warned yesterday.

Sister Stanislaus Kennedy said wealth has brought many good things to the country with new industries, houses, cars and roads sprouting up amid growing hopes and confidence.

But the founder of Focus Ireland, the organisation for the homeless, said the downside could be seen in soaring property prices, rip-off retailers, spiralling personal debts and huge pressure on people to keep up.