An Ireland Worth Working For: Towards a new democratic programme

by Tom Healy

This book is about the future of Ireland – its economy and society and its people. It sets out a vision for the whole of Ireland that goes beyond sectarian or political agendas. What we need is a credible and carefully worked out strategy to move towards a shared vision, a strategy currently lacking in the market for ideas and contest of programmes. Referring to different models of economic, social and political development in the recent past or abroad may be helpful but what worked then or elsewhere may not work so well now or here. We do not need a blueprint for the future because we do not know what events and surprises await us. What we do need a set of pointers to guide the direction of policy, action and public conversation.

Although this book focuses on social and economic change within Ireland, we should not forget the importance of solidarity at a global level. Climate change, poverty, migration and human rights concern everyone around the world. Ireland is in the top group of countries in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, giving us a moral duty to show leadership and initiative in promoting human and labour rights, fair trade, investment and overseas aid.

300 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2019

Reviews

[Diarmaid de Paor · Rating 5 out of 5]

An informed , intelligent, thoughtful and very readable analysis of Ireland's difficulties and of possible solutions. It not only shows where we are are in economic/political/social terms but it also posits possible ways forward that would lead to a more sustainable, prosperous and fairer island of Ireland. While it is very realistic about the difficulties about attaining this it is also argues cogently that the necessary changes are possible. Highly recommended for anybody interested in the future of Ireland, North and South.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that the book was too political with too much stress on the importance of the Trade Union movement. The term 'equality' is widely used in the book but who does it refer to? The declaration of the 1st Irish Government 100 years ago included the term 'equality' but the people who prepared that declaration would have used it in a very narrow sense - subsequent treatment of single pregnant girls, tenement buildings still collapsing in the 1960s and many other instances show some people were treated as being 'more equal than others'.