The NERI seminar titled 'Taxation and Intergenerational Fairness: Exploring the role and reforms to inheritance taxes in Ireland' was presented by Dr. Micheál Collins, UCD and Dr. Tom McDonnell, NERI. It took place on Wednesday 18 February 2026 at 15.30 as an online Zoom event.
Lecture Format:
Dr. Micheál Collins, UCD and Dr. Tom McDonnell, NERI made their presentations. Subsequently, there was a Q&A section where the chairperson, Mr. Paul Goldrick-Kelly, NERI presented questions from attendees to Micheál and Tom.
Abstract:
Discussions about economic equality have, in recent years, extended beyond considerations of income distribution to encompass the distribution of wealth and its intergenerational transfer. Driven by new and more frequent data, a better understanding is emerging of the concentration of wealth within society and the dynamics of its intergenerational transfer.
This paper contributes to that discussion by assessing the economic and social rationales for the taxation of intergenerational wealth transfers. It outlines the social and public policy case for inheritances taxes grounded in vertical equity principles. Then it presents comparative data on household wealth across high-income European countries before focusing on one of these, Ireland, to consider whether current inheritance taxation policies counter or perpetuate these inequalities. Focusing on that system, the article explores a range of inheritance taxation reforms intended to address wealth inequality while providing recurring funds for public services and redistribution.
The presentation links to a recently published article by the presenters: McDonnell, T. and Collins, M.L. (2025) ‘Taxation and Intergenerational Fairness: Exploring the Role of Inheritance Taxes with a Focus on Ireland’, Social Policy and Society, 24(2), pp. 281–298. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/taxation-and-intergenerational-fairness-exploring-the-role-of-inheritance-taxes-with-a-focus-on-ireland/B27BD0AF592D852EB771334AD891DADE