Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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84. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 26 July 2022, the status of his Department’s consideration of the report by the Low Pay Commission on Universal Basic Income, which was submitted to him in July 2022; the timeline for the publication of this report and the accompanying research report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45185/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As I advised Deputy Connolly in July, last year I requested the Low Pay Commission to report on the Programme for Government commitment to “examine Universal Basic Income, informed by a review of previous international pilots and resulting in a universal basic income pilot in the lifetime of the Government.” To inform its considerations, the Low Pay Commission asked the ESRI to conduct background technical research on a universal basic income under the terms of the Low Pay Commission – ESRI Research Partnership Agreement.

The Low Pay Commission received the ESRI’s report on Universal Basic Income earlier this year. The Low Pay Commission submitted its report and recommendations on Universal Basic to me in July 2022. I, along with my officials, am considering the Commission’s report and recommendations and next steps required. The timeline for the publication of the Commission’s report on universal basic income and its accompanying research report is also being considered.