Think-tank urges cutting tax breaks to fund universal pension

A universal pension could be funded by reducing pensions tax breaks that mostly benefit the richest 20% of earners, according to Social Justice Ireland.

The independent think-tank says every person over the age of 65 could have a pension of €230 a week, the current contributory pension rate, until 2016, rising over time to 40% of average earnings.

This would replace the current contributory and non-contributory State pension.