DraftRoadmap to an adequate minimum

income system in Ireland

For discussion

Robin Hanan, EMIN Ireland and EAPN Ireland

Round Table, 7 October 2014

Why Now?

Time of change• Emerging from recession• One stop shops/ Intreo• Activation/ conditionality• New debates across Europe

Part of a broader picture

The auld triangleof active inclusion

…

Adequate income

Decent workQuality services

Whyis it important?

A

More equal society

Enable social participation

Economic stabiliserEconomic stimulus

Support to return to work

Howdo we design it?

Adequate

Accessible

Comprehensive

Workshop Questions

Question 1

How much is enough?

Whatdo we mean by adequate?

"People are living in poverty if their income and resources (material, cultural and social) are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living which is regarded as acceptable by Irish society generally.

“As a result of inadequate income and other resources, people may be excluded and marginalised from participating in activities which are considered the norm for other people in society.“

National Anti Poverty Strategy, 1997

Yes, butHow do we really decide what’s adequate?

60% of mean income?

A basket of Goods and services?

Deprivation indicators?

Workshop Questions

Question 2

What needs to change?

WhoIs falling between the cracks now?

Habitual Residency

condition?

Homeless people?

Early school

leavers?

Young people?

Direct Provision?

Insecure workers?

Women at home?

Leaving institutional

care?

WhatWould an adequate and effective system look like?

One scheme with tailored add-ons’?What conditionality?

What secondary benefits?What means-testing and how?

How to bring in excluded groups?Better information on rights?

Gender? Race? Rural/urban?Child’s rights/parents’ status?

Poverty traps?

Workshop Questions

Question3

How do we achieve change?

Whatroad forward?

Winning public support

Building coalitions?

European Alliances?

Institutional

dialogue?

Political

consensus?

Fighting hostile myths?

Questions for the workshops

1. How much is enough?Defining an adequate minimum income

2. What needs to change? Delivering an adequate minimum income

3. How do we achieve change?

Find your group

Group Facilitator Note-taker

Purple Robin Hanan Tess Murphy

Blue Audry Deane Wayne Stanley

Green Aiden Lloyd Paul Ginnell

Irish Minimum Income Network

Part of the European Minimum Income NetworkCurrent members:Age and Opportunity; Disability Federation of Ireland;Focus Ireland; Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed;Nevin Economic Research Institute; SIPTU; Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice; EAPN Ireland.

Emin Blog http://emin-eu.net/