Tasc, the left-wing economic think tank, publishes an annual survey of inequality, and in the 2020 edition, commented on Ireland’s “non-conformism” to the “trend of rising inequality in most countries”, suggesting the explanation ...

lay in the extraordinary economic progress of the Celtic Tiger period. Whatever the reason, the Tasc report says, “while inequality was on the rise elsewhere, it was falling here”.

And what is truly remarkable about Ireland, as Coffey points out, is that the falling inequality has come at a time of strong income growth. In other words, we were getting richer, and also more equal at the same time.

It is important to observe that none of this means that poverty is not a problem in Ireland.

But it does mean that the idea many people have of Ireland as a uniquely badly governed and unsuccessful country – a failed state, almost – is one that our peers would not recognise.

These are not things that just happen; they result from political choices.

In the coming years, this government – and probably the next one – are going to have to decide how to pay for the larger State that will result from the pandemic. They will be faced with choices; and those choices will not always – or ever – be easy.

And those answers will have to be found against the backdrop of a public debate whose strong point is not, to put it mildly, acknowledging the economic and fiscal realities that face every government, of whatever hue.

Coffey asks why is Ireland’s performance on inequality not reflected in public debate. The answer, I think, is because our public debate can often be hopelessly skewed away from reality.

Our public debate and political system tends to overrepresent the priorities of powerful special interests, whether they are the professions, the multinationals, the public sector trade unions (currently lining up for another pay deal) or Ireland’s remarkably prolific NGO sector.

Sometimes our media only amplifies those voices, without context. Those who shout loudest tend to be ones who are heard. I think our country would be better off if our debates were more grounded in reality.

Acknowledging the successes as well as the failures of past governments would be a start.

Full column here https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/pat-leahy-ireland-is-becoming-more-unequal-wrong-1.4427785