Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

For the record, it was in section 8 we increased the family income supplement. We need also to be careful that family income supplement would not become a disincentive to employers to increase their earnings through increased hours or higher wages. This would leave recipients trapped on low incomes over time. We need to be careful on family income supplement. It is worthy of further study to determine that employers are not manipulating their payments to ensure employees qualify for family income supplement and restricting the opportunities of employees to grow their income and hours. We all need to be careful of employers exploiting family income supplement. It is something that has been brought to my attention over recent months and it needs further study. As I said, the amendment has been ruled out of order. I merely highlight in a non-political sense that we all need to be careful with family income supplement that we want recipients to maximise their earnings and we do not necessarily want to subsidise employers for low pay.