Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank our witnesses for their presentations, which contain a phenomenal amount of information. I had the opportunity to read part of them and to try to digest as much of them as possible. The question of whether we would be indexing to inflation or wages is one that stood out for me because I understood initially that we might be linking to inflation and that Dr. Healy was very much focused on linking it to wages. It sounds like a very positive and good approach. Are there potential negatives about carrying out that kind of indexation? What would it mean for the cost of living? Is it all positive or are there possible negatives?

Why should we link to wages rather than inflation? We have seen over the past while that wages in some sectors such as finance and technology increased and that there is a shortage of trades so people in those areas will be able to command higher wages. Many others have not really seen any improvement or change in their wages over the past year. The situation is lumpy regarding places where we would see wage increases. Could the witnesses outline why we should link to wages instead of inflation?

Are the witnesses talking about all social welfare benefits such as pensions, working family payment and child benefit? Would it also include the other benefits along the edge such as the free television licence, the fuel allowance, medical card thresholds and PRSI relating to the cost of glasses? Are the witnesses talking about the gamut of social welfare?

I am conscious of families that do not receive social welfare payments in circumstances where a member of the family is working. Would the witnesses favour linking taxation bands or thresholds? Where would people who are not on social welfare and who are just keeping their heads above water sit?