Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

My point is that in the case of a couple with a mortgage who have more outgoings than they have income, they do not have any income. I have seen people who have no income and who, despite having salaries and so on, literally have no income left to pay for the basics in their house. The point I am making is that income inequality is bigger than just the pay packet. I should note I am an absolute fan of equality budgeting, which would be great.

There is a consensus that we should have it and the information should be available. From a Government backbencher’s point of view, one must weigh up the pros and cons and then make a decision; it is not as simple as it may seem. The budget is a package and one cannot just pick and choose bits of it. That could be reform also but, overall, I would be very favourable towards the measure.