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would not be means tested and would not increase or decrease as your income changed. Under Green Party policy, UBI would be paid to all legal, permanent residents of the State. Those under the age of 18 would receive a universal child allowance payment and those reaching retirement age would move to a universal basic income pension payment.
Universal Basic Income The 2020 Programme for Government includes a commitment to deliver a universal basic income (UBI) pilot “in the lifetime of the Government”. An architect of the Green Party’s UBI policy, Neasa Hourigan TD explores the concept which could transform social welfare. The idea of universal basic income has been gaining significant traction over recent years. Its advocates range from Pope Francis to President Micheal D Higgins and to NGOs such as Social Justice Ireland.1 2 But what is it and what would it do? Well in simplified terms it would comprise a fixed, regular sum of money being paid to every resident in the country. It is seen as a means to tackle the inherent economic inequality in our society and provide those participating in vital societal functions that are often neglected (such as caring for a loved one) with a means to support themselves. UBI has been a core belief of the Green Party for the last 30 years and the party managed to secure a commitment in the Programme for Government for a UBI pilot during the lifetime of this government. It sits alongside a suite of universal supports that include the
provision of public housing and universal healthcare. Green Party Deputy Leader and Minister for the Arts, Catherine Martin TD, has since been working on extending this pilot to creatives and those working in the arts and this is likely to happen in the near future.
What is universal basic income? But what is UBI? Why do it and how would it work? Firstly UBI is a wellestablished Green Party policy.3 UBI would operate as a standard payment to every individual that is resident in the State without reference to your means or ability/availability for employment i.e. you would not have to prove that you are ready to work to receive the payment. You would be able to choose how you spend the payment however you wish. It
The Green Party believes UBI would lead to lower rates of poverty and help ensure that all members of our society enjoy a decent quality of life. It would help to begin the process of decoupling social function from employment. So, whether you are experiencing a phase of unemployment, volunteering, caring for a child or an elderly parent, it would give you a secure income. The concept supports the principles of sustainable development where the right to a humane standard of living is untethered from relentless growth in consumer production.
Would I lose out? Understandably, with such systemic changes to our social protection system, those on lower incomes may fear they will lose out. And while the introduction of UBI would see the replacement of a number of current social protection payments such as the Old Age Pension, Unemployment Benefit and Children’s Allowance, we seek to ensure a system where everyone is better off under UBI and those receiving additional social protection payments will continue to receive them. As mentioned above, those under the age of 18 would receive a Universal Child Allowance payment and those reaching the retirement age would move automatically to a universal basic income pension payment. Under the Green Party’s model all Child Dependent allowances would also continue. Other entitlements such as medical cards would not change and the same terms and conditions as currently applied would continue to do so. We would also work with carers and those in receipt of payments such as the Blind Pension to optimise their financial outcomes.
1. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/work/basic-income-for-all-has-the-covid-crisis-given-us-a-new-economic-model-1.4420419 2. https://www.socialjustice.ie/content/policy-issues/basic-income-and-ubs-key-improving-living-standards-after-covid-19 3. https://neasahourigan.com/docs/Green%20Party%20UBI%20Policy%20October%202019%20%28Final%29%20%28V12%29.pdf 126
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