Sectoral finger-wagging must come to an end

For many people facing the daunting spectre of unemployment, debt, higher taxes and some even in danger of having their homes repossessed, there will be little to celebrate this Christmas.

As the dole queues lengthen by the week those fortunate enough to be in employment are increasingly having to defend themselves against unfair criticism and, in some cases, elements of a hostile media. This hostility is aimed primarily at public sector workers.

Any impartial analysis would acknowledge the unfairness of this demonisation of our public sector. It is generally accepted that it was the high standard of our education system, from primary level on, that drove much of the Celtic Tiger.