Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Renua Ireland) | Oireachtas source

I know it might not suit some of the Acting Chairman’s Labour colleagues but I know that he would be very amenable to it because he is a progressive, positive Deputy. We brought it forward because we believe welfare and low wage traps have existed here for many years. We can pontificate and articulate about, and throw money at, our welfare problem but successive governments, particularly the two or three preceding this one, used it as a political bribe addressing the material aspect of welfare instead of addressing its motivational aspect. Until we give a hand up rather than a hand out we will have that difficulty. There are many marginalised people in this society, over several generations, and that will remain so unless we change policy. We have to bring in a flat tax rate. This Government’s tax policy is progressive but penal. We want one that is progressive, fair, that will get rid of the wage trap, encourage employment and equally important, will bring the 200,000 young people who are abroad back to this country.

On the issue of housing-----

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