As the three political parties continue to vote on whether to form a government, one of the aspects promised in the program for government they published last week is the concept of a universal basic income.

The program for government commits to asking the Low Pay Commission to examine the idea and even piloting the idea within the lifetime of the government.

So what would a Universal Basic Income mean?

Joining Ivan on Monday's edition of The Hard Shoulder were Dr Seán Healy, Director of Social Justice Ireland and Ross McCarthy, chairperson of ISME.