We urgently need to re-focus our policies away from the wealthy

I would like to see fairer delivery of justice and a review of the imbalance in distribution of the country’s wealth during the coming year.

In a recent analysis on a Red C poll of 1,000 people, commissioned for David McWilliams, the reality is — the most affluent 20pc in Ireland actually own 73pc of the country’s wealth and the poorest 20pc own just 0.2pc.

As for the top five per cent, their combined wealth is nearly double that of the entire ‘squeezed middle’.

Commenting on the resullts, McWilliams suggests that even if people believe they have something small – a saving fund, a bit of wealth, a sense that they matter and that their future is in their hands – they change their behaviour for the better.

Meanwhile, a club operate at the top, comprising of big business, the wealthy, the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, possibly of necessity, all working to keep the economic cogs of the nation in motion.

But more and more, it seems their focus is on the wealthy, the big players in our country.

Unfortunately, they fail to recognise, never mind solve — the poverty, homeless, unemployment and injustice that still persists in the bottom rungs of our society.

No disrespect to the generosity of wealthy philanthropists that have helped this country in so many ways.

Naturally, they are aware, as are the Government, with a general election on the cards, that nobody was ever honoured for what they have received; always, for what they have given.

James Gleeson

Thurles

Co.Tipperary