Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been urged by Oxfam to "drive concrete discussion'' on tackling global inequality at this week's world economic forum in Davos.

The agency said research predicted that the richest 1 per cent would own more than the rest of the world’s population by next year.

Oxfam Ireland chief executive Jim Clarken said the forum had previously identified economic inequality as a major risk to human progress and the research had shown it was getting worse.

He said inequality was not inevitable and was the result of policy choices.

“2015 represents a historic opportunity for world leaders to set a road map to eradicate extreme poverty and improve prospects for all citizens, with the clock ticking for major decisions on the new UN development goals later this year,’’ he said.

“If we get it right, this generation can solve one of the major global challenges of our time and help people escape the stranglehold which keeps them in poverty.’’

At last year’s forum, Oxfam revealed that the 85 richest people on the planet had the same wealth as the poorest 50 per cent, 3.5 billion people.

Oxfam called for a clampdown on tax dodging by corporations and rich individuals; investment in universal, free public services such as health and education and a shifting of taxation from labour and consumption towards capital and wealth.