A society divided - Denying our reality will lead to chaos

AS the bleakness of our situation becomes more apparent and, as the grim-reaper December budget creeps upon us, dangerous social polarisation gathers pace.

Yesterday three teachers’ unions confirmed their members had voted for strike action on Tuesday week. A fourth union earlier got a mandate to down tools.

On Thursday the Health Service Executive warned that the level of cover proposed by unions for November 24 was “totally unsatisfactory, and would pose a serious risk to patient care and safety on the day”.