Economic growth – Policies leave poor out in the cold

The latest figures from the Quarterly Household Survey indicate that the Celtic Tiger is alive and well. Employment grew by almost 3%, which amounted to an average of 1,000 new jobs per week.

The Industrial Development Authority has depicted a bright future, as our economy is sound. The Government deserves a great deal of credit for this.

So why are people so disgruntled that they gave the Government a right pasting last week? The answer can probably be summed up in one word, arrogance. The Government refused to recognise the issues about which voters were worried, so the electorate retaliated in order to humble them.

People are concerned we have become the most expensive country in Europe, while our public services are well below European standards. It is wrong that there should be so much deprivation in the midst of such wealth. Fianna Fáil backbenchers have been calling for a more caring approach from their leaders and policies that are less right wing.

The Government should use the current wealth to tackle the cost of living and to adopt a more compassionate approach to issues of poverty, instead of allowing a select few to squander money on pet projects in their own constituencies.