Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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No. Deputy Conway-Walsh is correct that if the one-off payments were removed, the progressive impact would be less because a fixed payment of a large amount has a bigger impact for somebody on a low income, but they have been made available. These were happening at a point at which core welfare rate increases were below the rate of inflation. If we get to a point that core welfare rates are ahead of the rate of inflation, and the type of cumulative inflation we have had in recent years, then the one-off payments would not be necessary but we are not in that place at present.