Let’s look on the bright side of Irish life over the past decade

We’ve done well since the financial crisis. In spite of under-investment in health and housing, wasteful spending and high personal taxes, Ireland isn’t such a bad place to live

Over the last six years, prior to Covid-19, the numbers in employment soared to the highest ever level, more than 2.3 million people. Photo: Fergal Phillips

It’s not a bad time to look at the good that has been achieved in Ireland over the last decade — and during this year of deep crisis.

The scars from the financial crisis of a decade ago clearly run deep and are still sore when pressed, as evidenced by the reaction to Micheál Martin’s gaffe about the bailing out of the banks.

Those who lost their jobs or houses as a result of the ...