The two Irelands - Poverty a blight on our prosperity

The diversity between the rich and poor gets wider by the day in this country as expectations from the SSIA scheme lead many consumers to ignore persistent amber lights that are being flashed along the economic highway.

It is not being pessimistic to note that among the upbeat noises being generated by the prospect of such wealth as much as €16 billion there are also voices exhorting the exercise of caution.

Almost forgotten behind euro signs is the dichotomy which allows consistent poverty exist alongside prodigious, burgeoning affluence as illustrated by two reports published yesterday.