Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Perfect. I thought I would take the opportunity. It was an excellent piece of work.

Regarding the presentation the witnesses provided, I wish to focus on the at-risk-of-poverty measure across specific groups when temporary measures are excluded. In the ESRI’s post-budget briefing, it found the at-risk-of-poverty measure increased across adults, the elderly, children and those with disability once temporary measures were excluded. Am I reading that properly? Is that the ESRI's conclusion? Will the witnesses provide more detail on the ESRI findings? Do the witnesses accept that the continual use of temporary measures to support households is storing problems for the future, given that the real permanent rates are now falling compared with pre-pandemic levels? It is cushioning and hiding what is a real issue given the core rates are not increasing in line with inflation.