Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the issue of the IMF's stated views on universal payments. We must grapple with this issue sooner rather than later. During the term of the previous Government we saw how difficult it was to remove a universal payment, which is just about impossible.

We should put the issue of universal payments to a referendum so that the people can decide on the issue. If people vote against these payments, they will be voting against the receipt of child benefit, old age pensions or medical cards or any other benefit. Universal payments cost a great deal of money and the word is that not everybody needs these benefits.

My second point is that those who do need to avail of universal benefits are supposedly the wealthy. We need to compare the gross payments via social welfare to the take home pay, following deductions for tax and levies of those working. We need to put this objective information into the public domain for debate. This is a service that this House could do for people in general.

I ask that we consider holding a referendum on universal payments?