Major improvements in social services have been made over the last seven years, and efforts must now be targeted on those who have been left behind, the head of the Conference of Religious in Ireland, Father Seán Healy, told Fianna Fáil yesterday.
Father Healy, who has sharply criticised all of the Government's budgets, said the economy has done very well.
"There are groups who have done extraordinarily well, but there are other groups who have not benefited," he said, after he addressed the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
Describing the Republic as "a low-tax country", he said that the real tax take is lower here than anywhere else in the European Union, bar Greece and Portugal.
The Government, he said, had already committed itself in the social partnership negotiations to increasing social welfare rates substantially in the remaining budgets of its life.
Social welfare rates must rise by €14 a week, while "pro-rata" increases should be guaranteed during the Government's planned remaining two budgets.
Extra money should be spent on community employment schemes, all children should have medical cards, while tax credits should be refundable, he argued.
Asked if he believed extra social spending would follow, Father Healy said "the proof of the pudding" would be shown on budget day. "But I got a very good hearing in there.
"I have the feeling that the kind of priorities that I was outlining met with a resonance from a lot of the TDs and senators in there. I did not get any negative vibes.
"I did not get any guarantees about A, B or C, but I did not expect to get them, but people were open, they were engaged. I would hope that budget 2005 will show substantial movement," he commented.
His presentation, described as "extremely eloquent" by one Minister, was warmly greeted by a large number of the parliamentary party attending the Inchydoney meeting.
"There isn't much difference between what you are looking for and what I am looking for," Fianna Fáil Dublin South West TD, Mr Charlie O'Connor, told Father Healy later.
Noting the "positive developments", the head of CORI pointed to population and housing growth, social partnership, and Ireland's position in "Europe and the wider world".
But he went on: "Are we a happy people? Why is there so much stress, anxiety, depression, and violence? What kind of Ireland are we trying to build? What quality of life will this Ireland provide?"
Criticising the lack of fairness in Irish society, Father Healy pointed to poverty, shortages in social housing, healthcare, literacy, and discrimination suffered by ethnic minorities.
Calling for political leadership, he said "a vision" was required to inspire people, that would help to build links between citizens, institutions and the environment, both locally and globally.
Everyone should have "sufficient income to live with dignity, meaningful work, appropriate accommodation, education, healthcare", he told the meeting.
"Can this be done? Yes, it can. The resources exist. Poverty, inequality and social exclusion can be tackled effectively. It is a question of political will."
A fair society, he said, would respect human rights, promote human dignity and development, minimise social exclusion and ensure that all paid a fair level of taxation.
