This passion for individual choice explains why we have our two-tier hospital system; GPs’ practices run as small businesses; a plethora of school types to satisfy everyone’s cultural whims; a love affair with cars; a gazillion one-off houses; and – despite the housing shortage – a refusal rate for social housing that, at one point in Cork City, hit 60pc.

This every-man-for-himself approach results in poorer outcomes for almost everyone (been on the M50 recently?), but is still largely brushed aside by the individual’s conviction that, as long as they can afford to buy what hasn’t been provided, they’ll be okay.

Don’t even think about blaming politicians for this. The system accurately reflects the will of the people. For example, imagine if Richard Bruton announced tomorrow that Ireland was going to follow the Finnish model and close one-third of our national schools and force all pupils into large schools, with a single state- patronage model, but with trained-up teachers and better facilities. The fact that this model brought Finland from the bottom to the top of OECD educational league tables would be completely ignored in favour of a hysterical revolution, the clarion cry of which would be: “Choice!”

Read the full article on The Irish Independent website