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Fri 11 Nov 2006Brennan dismisses UN data on Irish povertyA United Nations report has rated Ireland as the fourth best country in which to live, a rise of four places on last year. However, it also ranks the State as 17th out of 18 rich countries for poverty levels, writes Ruadhán Mac Cormaic.Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan said the data by which Ireland was judged to have one of the highest poverty rates of rich countries was outdated, inaccurate and "distorted the reality".