Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The SILC report is a very important one. If Deputies want to take the matter up with the Whips, I would be happy to make provision for a debate on the report in the House at any stage. The report relates to the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2013, which was just as Ireland began to emerge from the crisis. It shows that the incomes of those in the lowest income groups increased in absolute terms and relative to the highest earners. As a result, the numbers at risk of poverty fell for the first time in three years by a small amount of 1.3%.

See this speech in context