Dr. Se?n Healy:

The basic income would depend on many things. We do not advocate it be based on the MESL but that it be based on a number that is viable - economically, socially, whatever. Ideally, it would be the MESL. We would have to look in that context at what the tax rates look like. Regarding a universal basic income, we have always kept close to where the welfare line is at any particular time, and that would still make a substantial contribution across the system. Remember that when a basic income is proposed, other supports are kept or put in place; for example, disability payments, illness payments and other payments. Those payments are not changed or removed under a basic income system.