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45126-Invest. Qual-No111

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Ireland’s Long Run Social Development and Vulnerabilitybeen “flexible, reactive and developmental” (p. 2). While thismakes it the study of public policy complex, and the effects of stateaction varied, it means that it cannot be neatly explained by anysingle theory or doctrine.2.4.2 The Vulnerabilities of Irish Social DevelopmentWhile the Council does not accept the alternative perspectivesdiscussed above, it is clear that they contain accurate observations.When these are combined with the Council’s own interpretation, itbecomes clear that Ireland’s small size, historical experience,institutional structures and type of economic development containundoubted social vulnerablities. These vulnerabilities include thefollowing:●●●●●The legacy of limited indigenous development created significantinequalities in opportunity and unfair outcomes and yieldedlimited resources for social protection and social services;Economic openness creates the possibility of extensive decline,which can create unemployment, poverty and emigration;Economic openness creates the possibility of extensive growthwhich, in certain circumstances, can have a number of negative,as well as many positive, social effects: increased earnings disparity;rapid population increase, with attendant problems inprovision of public services, transport, health-care,education and housing;a rapid switch from emigration to immigration;The over-riding need to achieve non-agricultural developmentimplies policies oriented to the attraction of inward investmentin high-tech, high-growth sectors and to achieving competitivenesswhich can, in certain circumstances, yield relatively highlevels of income inequality;The over-riding need to create employment implied approachesto economic and social policy that maximised job creation and133

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