The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has been consistent in his message that our present economic prosperity must be coupled with equality and social inclusion. In devoting his Christmas and New Year message to the needs and efforts of the volunteer sector, he has highlighted the responsibility of every citizen to attain this important goal. His message is of particular relevance in this, the UN Year of the Volunteer.
The average person reading this newspaper is a well-off, middle-class and comfortable beneficiary of our economic boom. Readership profiles support this pigeon-holing, as do advertisers and public relations experts who have marketed their goods and opinions to middle-class tastes successfully here for decades.
I think it is also safe to presume the average Irish Times reader reflects the liberalism of the newspaper on social matters and also broadly shares the social concerns and criticisms expressed here, about policies and actions that increase inequality and injustice in this country.
Although a recent IMS poll found that most feel the Government's The Irish Times is that Government policy is far too strict. Having rejected Government policy then, the average reader favours placing asylum-seekers not on a ship, not in Mosney (agreed), not down the country, not in the inner city, and most definitely not in their neighbourhood. The Taoiseach, in his New Year message, described just one example where multi-million-pound funding was allocated a year ago for high-support hostel places for the homeless in Dublin, yet to date local opposition has prevented the authorities from providing the urgently needed service.
Recently I received a letter from a constituent objecting to the establishment of a drug rehabilitation clinic close to her home for fear that one of her teenage children might find themselves sitting next to a drug addict on the bus.
It may be my imagination, and indeed the view of someone the wrong side of 60, but I can't help feeling that there was a little more generosity extended to our fellow man when we all had much less. We seem as a nation to be terrified of losing this new wealth and so are battening down the hatches and refusing to share what we have with people less fortunate than ourselves; be they refugees, people who are wishing to build themselves a home, drug addicts or even the mentally handicapped. It may be that we are just not yet confident enough to let out what I still believe to be the innate generous nature of Irish people.
I had a recent experience of that generosity when I was visiting Cavan with my wife, who is from Ballyjamesduff. Having visited the grave of her parents with her extended family, we were on our way to Virginia, six miles away, to visit her sister, Mary, and to enjoy her generous hospitality. It was December 27th, the day the snow began to fall.
Anyone who knows that region of Cavan will know of the steep and icy treachery of the famous Piggery Hill, outside Ballyjamesduff on the way to Virginia. We had been warned that we wouldn't make it as snow was thick on the ground. However, being of a slightly difficult disposition, I was determined that I would get up the hill. I did - halfway - then stopped, wheels whirring. The outlook was bleak. There was a big block of a man trudging up the hill just ahead of us, probably a farmer. He looked back, saw our plight and wordlessly came back, put his enormous bulk to the back of the car and heaved. In no time we were on the move again. He kept going until we breasted the hill. We tried to thank him but he just gave a wave and was gone.
The following morning we came out of Sharkey's Hotel, in Virginia, to find our car buried in the snow. The local chemist provided a shovel (or was it a spade?). The postman and another young man, assisted by the local Garda sergeant, started digging until they had us out and free. No fuss, no apparent need for profuse thanks. We then saw them head over to help another stranded car across the road. Maybe our true nature only comes out in adversity. Maybe we need more snow.
Volunteers are needed across the voluntary sector. Middle-class Ireland could easily provide this sector with all the manpower, skills and, where necessary, funding it requires. In a society where professionalism increasingly needs to be financially rewarded to be respected, and where social status is a simple concomitant of wealth, we cannot allow volunteer activities to be neglected: nor can we allow them to appear out of touch with modern life. They need reinvigoration, activism and talent more than ever.
In September a White Paper on Supporting Voluntary Activity was introduced by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern. Publication was preceded by probably the most intensive consultative processes ever taken on any White Paper in this State, consisting of departmental submissions and the organisation of 56 regional seminars on the voluntary sector.
In the paper, the community and voluntary sector was, at last, formally recognised by the State. Also, mechanisms were introduced in all relevant public service areas for consultation with the sector and to allow an input into policy-making; multi-annual funding was established as the norm for many services; the holding of regular policy forums was agreed. These were among the main points contained in the paper.
Underpinning these moves are massively increased resources from central government to the voluntary and community groups, up from £487 million in 1997 to almost £1 billion now. More must be done, that much is plain, but the fact remains that without volunteers there can be no volunteer sector.
The reality is that the community and voluntary sector in Ireland today, which is essential to policy development and to the provision of services and the development of activities, is being enfeebled through a lack of manpower. This must be reversed. Voluntary organisations such as the Scouts, the Irish Red Cross, the Simon Community, the St Vincent de Paul Society and Comhairle have improved the lives of many thousands. Our support is necessary in continuing this work, and on building upon it.