Professor John FitzGerald:

Our view is that a substantial part of the revenue should be used to ensure people on low incomes are not worse off but, very possibly, better off. The ESRI paper published last week by Mr. Barra Roantree and a colleague examines a range of options, one showing where all the money is used to increase welfare benefits, which would lead to a significant reduction in poverty. It is up to the committee and the Government to do the sums. Perhaps half the revenue could be used in the way I described, and half in some other way, which would ensure that those on low incomes do not lose out. Options exist but, as a council, we believe it is essential that people on low incomes do not lose out. There is a range of options. That is an issue for the Oireachtas and the Government to decide.