Summary of ideas submitted in the All island economy category…

• People who are claiming social welfare and making accident compensation claims which include loss of earnings should have welfare payments deducted from their final settlement if the claim is successful. The insurance company would pass this deduction on to the exchequer. This happens in Northern Ireland where a Compensation Recovery Unit exists
• People, who can afford to do so, should donate an interest free loan to the State for say a period of 3 years.
• Promote innovation in all aspects of our economy leading to better outcomes at a lower cost over the long term. Prioritise working smarter. Build a Community of Practice with the goal of a prosperous, ethical and innovative economy and country.
• Proof of ID should be required to claim weekly social welfare allowances etc.
• Provide companies with the tools and infrastructure to compete globally through access to co-operative shared services such as finance\marketing\sales etc.
• Provide grant assistance to recently redundant people attempting to launch sustainable enterprises in the social economy. Examples would be community gardens, conservations schemes, recycling projects. Social schemes could include care of the elderly, including transport schemes, and support for those living alone.
• Provide incentives for public servants to avail of part-time and reduced working hours.
• Provide more grants for innovation
• Provide tax free status on returns from private capital invested in start-up companies.
• Provide voluntary mentoring programmes for SMEs.
• Public service procurement should favour Irish produced and manufactured goods and services
• Recycle waste to generate power instead of purchasing oil and gas
• Reduce all mortgage holders from fixed rate mortgage contracts. This would reduce the likelihood of defaults and increase consumer spending
• Reduce bureaucracy and red tape.
• Reduce Capital Gains tax on Venture Capital Investment funds that have significant investments in Ireland.
• Reduce duplication of services across the Republic and Northern Ireland.
• Reduce maternity and sick leave, and reduce the working week to three or four days thereby creating more jobs.
• Reduce overtime rates for all workers.
• Reduce red tape and compliance issues for SMEs who spend a huge amount of time and energy dealing with the Revenue and other state bodies.
• Reduce red tape for companies setting up and operating here in Ireland.
• Reduce salaries and the cost of services with regulated asset bases (utilities, airports etc).
• Reduce social welfare allowances by €1 weekly except for carers and pensioners
• Reduce social welfare fraud and general tax evasion by increasing co-operation between agencies north and south of the border.
• Reduce the early childcare supplement for children under six by 50% and means test it.
• Reduce the levels of compensation given in legal cases.
• Reduce the number of sick days allowed without certification.
• Reduce the size and cost of the Government. Consider replacing the Government with a ‘Rainbow Government’ with all parties represented;
• Reduce the size of the public and civil service in Ireland
• Reduce the VAT rate immediately and reduce social welfare payments on a phased basis
• Reduce the VAT rate to 15%.
• Reduce Vat and fuel tax.
• Reduce waste with targeted initiatives and ideas
• Refine the processes and structures we have in place in terms of civil service.
• Reform Stamp Duty. Stamp duty should be paid by the vendor, not the purchaser.
• Reform the National Lottery so that there are more prizes for more people rather than one large prize