Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to confer functions on the Central Statistics Office and the National Economic and Social Council in relation to the publication of indices, to be known as Genuine Progress Indicators, designed to take fuller account of the well-being of the community by incorporating environmental and social factors which are not otherwise measured, in relation to the publication of National Distributional Accounts that aim to measure the distribution of national income and economic growth and in relation to an annual report on the impact of the Budget on economic and social inequality, poverty reduction and income and wealth redistribution; and to provide for related matters.

Over the past two years a debate has raged around the validity of gross domestic product, GDP, as a measure of Ireland's economic progress. There is some merit to that debate and the adoption of gross national income, GNI, as perhaps a more reliable indicator but the debate has missed a fundamental point. In fighting over how we measure our economy, we have ignored the fact that our national well-being relies on much more than simply the notional strength of our economy. The Bill I am introducing on behalf of the Labour Party seeks to rectify that. It seeks to ensure we measure all aspects of the progress of our nation and consider this progress in the round.

The annual publication of genuine progress indicators would build on the work done by other bodies such as the Social Progress Index. That global measurement indicates that Ireland does reasonably well compared with other countries around the world. The time has come for a national measure that will focus on and drive improvements to social progress in Ireland. Genuine progress indicators do not disregard economic growth but include it and embrace it. They also include other very important indicators, such as the health of our people, the amount of time they spend commuting or volunteering and the state of our national infrastructure. They measure levels of poverty in society and its distribution, as well as our ecological footprint.

This Bill gives responsibility to the National Economic and Social Council, working with the Central Statistics Office, for the publication of genuine progress indicators each year. This would be a significant step forward for how we debate our national progress. The Bill also includes a requirement for the same bodies to publish a set of distributional accounts each year. The national distributional accounts would measure how our national income and the fruits of our economic growth are shared among our people. They would include growth rates for each cohort of Irish people so we could see clearly if economic growth is benefitting only those with the most or if it is having an impact on each element of Irish society. There would be inclusion of estimates of the distribution of both pre-tax and post-tax income.

This process would also give an assessment of how tax and social welfare redistribution has an impact on income, as well as wealth inequality and distribution. The genuine progress indicators and national distribution accounts would be designed to shift the debate fundamentally in Irish society. We want to move away from simply speaking about GDP, GNI, fiscal space and productivity. Instead, we want to talk again about how our people are advancing and we are working to build a more equal country. To underpin these proposals, the Bill will include a requirement for the publication of reports each year and again every five years to assess the impact of budgets on economic and social inequality. These assessments will consider whether budgets have increased or decreased social and economic inequality. They will determine if budgets reduce poverty levels and what impact there is on the distribution of income and wealth across our nation.

This Bill is a progressive measure and it imposes no burden on a Department. It gives a meaningful and valuable task to the National Economic and Social Council, a topic that has been discussed at many Leaders' Questions. Above all it would change how we debate how Ireland is progressing. The Cabinet is meeting today in a special session to discuss economic progress. If this Bill were to become law, today would be the last occasion on which a Cabinet would discuss the economy without considering in tandem with economic measurements the health and well-being of our society and all our people. I commend this Bill to the House.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Bill opposed?

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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No.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."