Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Ginnell. I am sorry I had to pop out for a second. Regarding the USC, Mr. Ginnell mentioned the steady tax base. Has the EAPN done any work on something that came up at this committee - which both of us have spoken about - to the effect that instead of being abolished, the USC would be channelled into PRSI? Has the EAPN considered that as a way of keeping the base broad but of using the money specifically towards the PRSI pot?

Has the EAPN done any work on the impact of the living wage on employment figures? I employ 30 people, give or take, in my other profession. Many of them are shop assistants and low-wage earners. I am only looking at it from my narrow point of view but if one was to increase the wage to €11.50, has the EAPN done any work on whether it would lead to lay-offs from those sort of jobs, the impact of it or the inflationary impact of an increase of the minimum wage to the proposed living wage?