It’s time to talk about a new post-Covid social welfare contract

New ideas should be explored that reflect a changed world, including universal basic income

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s call for a grown-up conversation about a reformed social insurance system may be optimistic

Last week, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar called for what he termed a “grown-up conversation” on increasing employers’ and employees’ PRSI to fund a reformed social insurance system.

Varadkar, who is also Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, may be overly optimistic. It is unusual to hear anyone who has been in government for the last ten years call for a grown-up conversation when it comes to increasing taxes. It's not something we are good at in ...