Tuesday, July 08, 2008

People question legacy of boom, says bishop

IRISH people are beginning to ask what we have got to show for the huge amount of money generated during the economic boom, according to the Archbishop of Dublin.

Dr Diarmuid Martin said: "People are beginning to say 'Well you know, we have a huge amount of money. What have we now got to show for it?' Have we got the hospitals and the schools that we should have at the end of a period of prosperity? Are our old people safer or happier and well-looked after? Are we a safer society or have we actually turned out to be a less secure society because of violence?"

The archbishop said he believes people are now asking more questions about "fair values" for the future.

"We may also be able to be a bit more objective in evaluating what we did with all the money. Where did we do a good job, where did we not do a good job?"

The archbishop said he wasn't taking "pot shots" at the Government, but referred to a report recently prepared for Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe which highlighted the poor state of school buildings.

"Why did it come when we have no money to do anything about it? Where were we all?" he said. "I think that as times change, people should always be evaluating -- even when times are good."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce