Bricks and mortar do not make a nation

IT looks like Ireland is waking up after a few too many late nights out during the Celtic Tiger years. Rising interest rates, stagnant property sales and recent job losses are uneasy reminders of an Ireland we had all but forgotten.

Never mind, you might say, at least we have a first class health, education and public transport system to show for it... The truth is, despite economic success we have none of the above. The gap between Ireland’s richest and poorest has never been wider and continues to grow. Economically, a lot has been achieved but it is now time to look at where we are going and what type of society we want to live in.

Building a fair and progressive society requires a balance between economic growth and social inclusion.