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balance. The business organisations I have engaged with are pointing to the lack of housing, pressures on services and the diabolical cost of living as presenting the biggest threat to business expansion. Have all these issues been taken into account in the action plan? It is really important … that we have a sustainable plan that will address the cost of living and the cost of doing business as we go forward

even if you know you are going to be broke or are surprised by being broke in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, you are still broke. At the committee meeting last week, the Minister spoke at length about his commitment to make some efforts with … less. Will the Minister reconsider his decision and examine the group I have mentioned, in particular, perhaps in the context of the cost-of-living crisis or commitments on child poverty? The Minister should do whatever it takes and consider again the groups who are excluded

that there might be people sitting either at parliamentary party meetings or around the Cabinet table, God help us, who believe the cost-of-living crisis is over is deeply disturbing. The cost-of-living crisis is very much not over and it must be urgently addressed

believe it will. A lot of the investment he mentioned involved one-off, non-recurring payments to deal with an acute cost-of-living crisis. That crisis has not gone away and is still acute. The Government is saying there will be no one-off measures … figures. In the absence of those measures, long-term measures will have to be put in place to tackle the acute cost-of-living crisis that is impacting on children very severely. The figures bear that

Cork North-Central, another property tax hike just represents an increased bill they have to pay in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. In County Cork, according to a daft.ie report, house prices have increased by more than €75,000. That is not the fault … might be one thing but they are living on the State pension, so any increase on them is another strike in the cost-of-living crisis. I will conclude before my colleague contributes. I will give a terrible example. Tower is an area in my constituency where there

what Fine Gael does, definitely when it has Fianna Fáil in government with it. We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. People are struggling to put or keep a roof over their heads. People are struggling with the cost of childcare. The Government promised … That is what the Government is delivering to people in my constituency. It is absolutely wrong in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and, indeed, at any time. We should abolish the local property tax. That is what Sinn Féin is committed to and will

unfair charge. Let me acknowledge, as I have done on many occasions, the impact that inflation is having and that cost-of-living difficulties in recent years have had and continue to have on so many. However, at each point at which the re-evaluation of the local … country and the delivery of important services and infrastructure. The Government continues to be very conscious of the challenges of the cost of living and affordability. With the changes we are making, we aim to recognise the challenges that many are facing

performing well and public finances are very, very strong. It comes at a time when the Government refuses to tackle the soaring cost of living. Prices are out of control, from rents, which we have discussed, to groceries, energy bills and essential toiletries such as shampoo and toothpaste … harder to keep up with the basics and children are suffering and being hit the hardest. The Government has to bring forward cost-of-living supports urgently. It has the means to help and it is unacceptable to sit back and do nothing

reason I say we cannot do the one off measures we have done in the past again is that while the cost of living is still high, the rate of inflation we have seen that justified us doing those packages has fallen dramatically. When we brought … various large cost-of-living measures, it was done in anticipation they would be one-off. That turned out not to be the case but what has turned out to be the case is that inflation has fallen. We were in a situation where inflation was well

supporting mostly women, children and older people who have fled their home country because of the Russian war of invasion. The cost of living is not coming down in this country. It is the opposite; costs are going up. Electricity, grocery prices, insurance - you name it, the costs … rising. The cut will impact host families and change the basic economics for them. There will not be a once-off cost-of-living package in this year's budget, thereby piling further pressure on families. The Government is taking a huge risk by cutting this payment

bill was €460 and a bottle of shampoo that used to cost €4.50 is now €9. Yes, inflation has tamed but the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Taoiseach cannot accept people's experiences as bona … These are working families who are struggling and yet the Taoiseach is telling them "No". They cannot wait until October. We need cost-of-living supports and we need them with urgency

reduction in student fees the Minister is at pains to stress it was a temporary measure in response to the cost-of-living crisis. It is no surprise his party refrained from any such caveat while lauding it in its pre-election manifesto. His Government colleagues in Fine … promised to abolish fees, and we know what promises from the Tánaiste are worth. Families and students continue to live with the cost-of-living crisis, and as the Government refers to when delaying measures that benefit ordinary people, there is compounding economic turbulence. Pre-election promises from

exceeding it effectively. In other words, the extra money people are getting in wages is now outstripping any increases in the cost of living. It is wrong to say the Dáil voted for this. The Dáil allowed a timed amendment for a Bill to progress on Second Stage … course, we will continue to keep these issues under review. There are many ways we are helping young people with their own cost of living, with their educational opportunities, with the reduction in college fees and the like. We want to continue on that positive trajectory

many more stand in solidarity and are heard at the highest levels. As we face modern challenges like job insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis, this partnership is more important than ever because when working people stand together in the workplace and in Dáil Éireann … dignity are worthless. It deepens inequality, especially for those trying to find education, support families or gain independence. With the rising cost of living, these lower wages are not just unfair, they are unsustainable. Young people are the future of the Irish workforce. Instead of exploiting them

proposals. When discussing insolvency, we cannot avoid discussing what is actually driving insolvency for both businesses and individuals. This includes the high cost of living, the cost of insurance, the cost of rent and sky-high utility bills in this State, all of which the Government has failed … recognition of insolvency across European Union member states. However, we have to focus equally on what is driving people into insolvency. The cost of living and the cost of doing business must be addressed and there must be a crackdown on vulture funds to ensure they are forced

pharmaceutical and food and drink sectors. The main threat is expected to be internal challenges such as the housing crisis. The cost-of-living crisis is very likely to get much worse. Already, we have seen the Government put forward ideas like water charges, and it has removed … increase. The Government must intervene. It has the legal power to control prices. It refused to do that during the recent cost-of-living crisis, but it must do it now. Instead of relying on the private sector and on multinational companies to come here, we must have

Ireland and how this will affect their lives. Many people in this country are already being ground down by the relentless cost-of-living crisis and they simply cannot absorb higher prices from tariffs. Those who have not felt the benefit of the so-called "good times" know … breadth of that will mean that the prices paid by Irish consumers will be pushed up in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. The scale and breadth of that will impact on Irish jobs and Irish public finances. That is not just what Sinn Féin

Social Democrats, we emphasise that everything must remain on the table for now, from supports for consumers with regard to the cost-of-living increases we will see to supports for businesses in particular. This is not to suggest these supports need to be introduced or committed … support in place. These supports will not be required to the same extent but they need to remain on the table. Similarly, cost-of-living supports should be part of the upcoming budget. I note the Minister for Finance has already suggested that these will

support workers? If we look at the level of working poverty and food poverty, we have been in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis for more than five years. One of the key parts of this cost-of-living crisis is what has been termed "greedflation

These factors are direct results of failures by this Government and its Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael predecessors - failures that include the cost-of-living crisis, sky-high energy costs, chronic underinvestment in housing and a healthcare system that is bulging under the pressure. This Government has constantly … failed to grasp the severity of the cost-of-living crisis. Grocery prices have risen by one third in just three years. Staples like chicken fillets have seen a staggering increase of 120%. How can older people enjoy a decent standard of living in retirement when the State

right that we have very significant threats but that does not diminish the importance of this issue in the context of a cost-of-living crisis where some of those threats could result in increased cost-of-living pressures. What are the real threats facing our economy

appropriate to extend this reduced rate of VAT, particularly given how high energy costs contribute to a rise in the cost of living. It should be noted that increases in energy prices are driven primarily by global factors over which the Government has no control. However a measure … million. The VAT reduction from 1 May will add to the already substantial support provided by Government to help with the cost of living. Finally, it should be noted that the financial resolution allows this reduced rate to apply from 1 May. However, there is a requirement

over to the convention centre to continue this work of Parliament, and the Ukrainian crisis of 2022 with the illegal invasion and cost-of-living crisis that came from that. Tomorrow, we face another big challenge. Thousands of workers around the country right now are driving home from … whether they will still have a job in the weeks and months ahead. They are worried about what might happen with the cost of living depending on what comes out or what decisions are announced by the US and what response comes from

television service providers are all hiking their prices mid-contract. It is absolutely relentless. The Taoiseach has said there will be no cost-of-living package in this year's budget. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has said he supports him in that. Surely to God the Minister understands … pressure ordinary people are under. He needs to revisit the idea of bringing forward a cost-of-living package to address the crippling costs people the length and breadth of this State are facing

subjected to a means-tested payment. Often both of them are excluded from many of the very important cost-saving and cost-of-living measures we put in place because they are not entitled to a contributory pension by virtue of not having enough stamps. It is just … other side of their retirement, they do not get any social welfare payment, are not entitled to any of the cost-of-living top-ups and often fall foul of others. In some of those schemes, like the CIÉ pension scheme, for example, we have