Calls to oppose basic income policy

The country’s largest public sector union is being asked to oppose moves towards a basic income policy to replace various social welfare supports.

In a motion before the 800-delegate Fórsa conference in Killarney, the Employment and Social Protection Executive Grades branch called on the incoming executive to oppose the introduction of a basic income policy or any version of it.

There are rumblings about Ireland being the first country to introduce a basic income payment, or universal payment on a State-wide basis, the conference was told yesterday.