Gap between rich and poor under Labour widest in 30 years

'In opposition, Labour rightly took Fianna Fáil to task for looking after the rich at the expense of the poor but when it's in power Labour looks like it's doing just the same'

SPENDING MONEY in most people’s pockets is getting smaller while the already-wealthy in Irish society have more to spend under the Fine Gael/Labour Government and its austerity agenda supported by Fianna Fáil.

Social Justice Ireland says today the gap between Ireland’s rich and everyone else is at its greatest in 30 years. And it's getting worse under Labour in its partnership with Fine Gael.

Sinn Féin Social Protection spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD told An Phoblacht:

"The Social Justice Ireland report is confirming what we are seeing every day on the ground in Sinn Féin advice centres and no doubt in offices like the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS.

"In opposition, Labour rightly took Fianna Fáil to task for looking after the rich at the expense of the poor but when it's in power Labour looks like it's doing just the same."

Social Justice Ireland says the income of Ireland’s poorest households fell by over 18% in a single year; the income of the richest rose by 4%.

The report published today by SJI argues that the top 10% of the population has almost 14 times more disposable income than those at the lower end of he scale.