The Government should introduce a weekly universal payment to help reduce poverty, a world expert said today.
London School of Economics academic Peter Townsend said the payment would replace the current social welfare system which is outdated and inflexible.
The leading poverty researcher was speaking yesterday at an international conference organised by Basic Income Earth Network (BINE) at UCD.
“A basic income system would immediately improve the life chances of hundreds of millions of children,” Mr Townsend said.
“It would also pave the way for the emergence of social security systems in low income countries comparable with those in OECD countries and therefore radically reduce mass poverty.”
More than 75 speakers from 20 countries will address the event over today and tomorrow.
Presentations will also be delivered at today’s conference by Canadian Senator Hugh Segal and German MP Katja Kipping.
Social policy watchdog Cori told the conference that a basic income system was needed for everybody in Ireland.
Cori chief executive Fr Sean Healy said that the present income tax and social welfare system in Ireland was developed for a world that no longer exists.
“In a basic-income system every person receives a weekly tax-free payment from the Exchequer which would replace social welfare," he said. “Basic income is a form of minimum income guarantee that avoids many of the negative side effects inherent in social welfare payments.”
Cori said the system would guarantee an income above the poverty line for everyone and would not be means tested.
“There would be no ‘signing on’ and no restrictions or conditions, added Fr Healy.