IntroductionDaly and Yeates (2002) examine the origins, development and trajectory of social security in Ireland and Britain, comparatively. The article begins by examining their common origins in the form of a shared colonial history. The article explores “structural, political and ideological factors” and their impact on “principles, institutional features and political characteristics” (Daly and Yeates, 2002, p. 1) that set both countries on different trajectories. I will explore the factors addressed by Daly and Yeates, including the Poor Laws, the Beveridge Report, current development and their trajectories. I will also explore other factors such as Fabianism, Keynesian economics, World War II and changes in governments and economies as I believe it is important to analyze social security in the broader context of society. Origins The article states that Ireland and Great Britain have a social security system “that was once almost identical” (Daly and Yeates, 2002, p. 87). Poor Laws are believed to be the main influence of social security in both countries. The poor laws distinguished between the "undeserved" and the "deserving poor" who were the elderly, the very young and the sick. This laissez-faire approach was intended to promote individualism and self-responsibility (Considine and Dukeloe, 2009). However, in Ireland, the level of poverty was immense and the lack of resources and opportunities meant that people were “in permanent need” (Kiely, G. O'Donnell, A. Kennedy, P. Quin, S. 1999, p. 13). Britain has a long history of support dating back to the Elizabethan Poor Laws of 1601, “the provisions of which did not apply to Ireland” (Kiely et al., 1999, p. 1). The Poor Law in Britain provided for outdoor relief, which was a relief to the community, but in Ireland it was not introduced until the famine of 1845, when the British state