THE Justice Commission of CORI, the Conference of Religious of Ireland, has called on all political parties to commit them selves to the elimination of poverty in the State by 2002.
In a document called A Future With a Place for All, issued yesterday, the Justice Commission says that despite the economic boom, "poverty, long term unemployment, exclusion, rural decline and urban deprivation" are not being tackled effectively.
"Decisions taken in the past 20 years have resulted in the emergence of a two tier society, it says, pointing out that "deeply divided societies are inherently unstable."
Ireland, with its rapidly growing economy has more than enough resources to tackle these gaps and reduce divisions, it says, and in that context "the general election of 1997 is crucial."
It points out that now, in the midst of the "euphoria" over "Ireland's Celtic Tiger economy", there are more people living below the poverty line than was the case 10 years ago, 34 per cent compared with 30 per cent.
The proportion of national spending on social welfare has dropped since 1986, while social welfare recipients receive payments below the poverty line. Ireland's spending on social welfare is the second lowest in the EU, above Portugal, and less than a quarter of the country's spending in the area is on unemployment.
It points out that although the net increase in jobs this past year was 45,000, unemployment has fallen by only 900, while long term unemployment fell by just 300.
Of those at work, 151,400 have part time jobs, 73 per cent of them women. More than 30,000 households are on waiting lists for housing, up substantially since 1992, while homeless numbers are also up.
In health, Ireland has a two tier system also, with waiting lists "unacceptably long", according to the document.
In the education sector 1,200 pupils leave the school system every year with less than five passes in the Leaving Certificate.
Up to 26 per cent of young people have qualifications which are of little use in the market place. Between 3,000 and 4,000 young people leave school without any qualifications at all each year.
Although farm subsidies average £6,000 per head of all those employed in the area, most of that money is going to "a small minority of large farmers."
Lack of access to the law "is causing suffering, injustice, bitterness and disillusionment" among many poor people, while "racism continues to be experienced by the travelling community".
It says that much of the commentary on social policy today "reflects the tension between the philosophy of self interest and the philosophy of the common good." Democracy, it points out, "is not a self sufficient moral system."
Quoting the Catholic bishops of England and Wales it says that, to be healthy, democracy "requires the presence of a system of common values." These should be about the type of society we want, the type of politician and political party who will lead us, as well as the policies and actions which shape our society.
