IRELAND AND THE EUROPEAN WELFARE-STATE

Although Ireland is one of the 'poor four' countries for the purposes of cohesion within the EC, this paper argues that the Irish have a hig hly developed welfare state with an extensive range of citizen's right s within the field of social policy. The author describes a 'pay relat ed' welfare state with only limited commitment to universalism and ega litarianism whose policy agenda is enhanced by EC membership, not leas t because the Irish traditions of constitutionalism and centralisation fit well with the EC emphasis on employment and social rights and soc ial dialogue.