23rd May 2010

Another week. Another round of job losses. And almost inevitably, more cutbacks on the way. So there’s a lot of uncertainty ahead.

For the Irish people, it was really just another week at the office, as the economic and financial calamity that has struck the country continued to play itself out.

People marched and shouted at the offices of Anglo Irish Bank, and at Leinster House. They brought their anger to the doorsteps of those whom they blame for our misfortunes.

But are we really just passive victims? Were we just innocent bystanders? Taken for a ride by greedy bankers and developers? Fooled by power-hungry politicians? Or did we perhaps bring some of the problems on ourselves?

It’s easy to say that the country was run by a so-called Golden Circle. But is it because the rest of us copped out and let them get on with it?

And if we are to build a better future, is it time we decided to shape that future ourselves? Should our communities, local groups and individuals be taking a more active role in enriching our society and challenging the powers that be? And how might we go about it?

Our guests this week were:

Terry Prone – head of the crisis clinic at The Communications Clinic

Mary Corcoran – sociologist, NUI Maynooth and co-author of Suburban Affiliations: Social Relations in the Greater Dublin Area

Fintan O’Toole – Irish Times journalist and Senator Terry Leyden’s New Best Friend

Brenda Power – columnist and author of The Noughties – from Glitz to Gloom.

Richard Delevan - deputy managing director of McConnells