Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Saying that the figures are from 2014 is not a big help. Most people know that much poverty is not reported for various reasons. The figures could be much more telling. Without social welfare payments, more than half of Ireland's population would be living in poverty, which is a frightening statistic. Inequality is rife and we must deal with it, as Deputy Smith noted. For example, we must address zero-hour contracts and low-paid workers. As an employer, I might often be against raising the minimum wage but there must be reasonable remuneration for people trying to work. We cannot have working people in poverty. Social welfare rates must take into account the number of children, siblings and dependants on a main income earner. These people are trying to survive and eke out a living, with some modicum of respect for themselves within society.

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