Government urged not to widen the gap between rich and poor

THIS week’s budget must not be used to drive a further wedge between Ireland’s rich and poor and worsen an already deeply divided two-tier society, a leading social rights campaign group has warned.

Social Justice Ireland has called on the Government to reverse existing policies which it described as “unjust, immoral and unfair” in advance of the first part of the budget to be announced by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin today.

Social Justice Ireland (SJI) recommends the establishment of a new jobs programme which would allow 100,000 long-term unemployed to take up part-time work to earn the equivalent of their existing social welfare payment levels plus a small top-up.