CORI urges McCreevy to bridge economic gap

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has urged Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy not to target the most vulnerable elements of society in his budget later this year.

CORI said Mr McCreevy should use the budget to tackle the widening gap between rich and poor and to address deficits in Ireland’s infrastructure and social provisions.

CORI said those who benefited least from the economic boom of recent years should not be forced to bear the brunt of the Government’s current financial problems.

Spokesman Fr Sean Healy said the gap between someone earning €50,000-a-year and someone on social welfare had increased by €276-a-week during the last six years of the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition.

“That widening of the rich/poor gap is simply not acceptable, particularly in a situation where the numbers living in relative income poverty are growing,” he said.