Sean Healy

Basic Income: An Instrument for Transformation in the Twenty-First Century

This paper argues a basic income system could transform the means of income redistribution and social empowerment in society, and move us decisively towards the egalitarian principle of giving everyone equal access to the conditions to live a flourishing life. Basic income is a universal non-conditional payment, paid at the same level to everyone regardless of income or wealth. The paper considers basic income as a transformative strategy from a number of perspectives: economic, social, cultural and environmental, and then considers basic income as an alternative and transformative idea for Ireland. It presents three potential pathways in which it could be implemented and elaborates and provides full costings on how one such proposal could be funded and concludes it is affordable, feasible and politically viable in Ireland today.

Ireland: Pathways to a Basic Income in Ireland

This chapter is divided into two sections. In section one, we outline in a summary manner the discussions and studies of Basic Income in Ireland since the first such study in 1977. In section two, we focus on possible pathways toward introducing a Basic Income in Ireland. In this section, we outline various pathways that have been studied and assessed in recent decades and set out a further option that we believe could lead, over time, to the introduction of a full Basic Income system in Ireland.

Ireland: The Prospects for Basic Income Reform

In 1977 Ireland’s National Economic and Social Council (NESC) published a report on how personal income tax and welfare transfers might be integrated (Dowling, 1977). The report studied three options, one of which was basic income. The fact that a study of this nature was produced by NESC is significant; NESC is Ireland’s major “think tank.” Appointed by the government, it draws together social partners (i.e., employers, trade unions, farming organizations, community and voluntary sector and environmental organizations), government officials and independent nominees chosen by the government to review and make proposals to the government on economic and social policy. NESC’s analysis of basic income had little impact, however, as the report’s recommendations on tax reform became the major focus of policy in the following years.