Freedom: Licence or Liberty?

There is little dispute that Ireland in the twenty-first century is a society in transformation. With an economy registering unparalleled growth, a rising population buoyed by an enriching immigrant community and an overall confidence in our future, we have much to celebrate. There is, however, a downside to that transformation. We may, by some Criteria, be deemed the second wealthiest nation in the world, but for all our success there are many who feel disconnected and marginalised in our society. We may be free from the shackles - economic or social - of our past, but does that freedom constitute true liberty or is it engendering a license that is ultimately threatening the fabric of our 'new' society?