Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach cited external factors such as Brexit, Covid and the global energy market, but failed to answer the straightforward question I asked him. He has done nothing to alleviate the hardship that Siobhan, Alison and Kevin are experiencing. In fact, in the budget he did nothing for renters. He proposed to freeze unaffordable childcare fees at their current extortionate rate, and he introduced a carbon tax hike that will drive up people’s bills. I have asked him to change tack to respond to the realities of people’s lives. I have asked him to reduce VAT to 0% temporarily for the winter months to give some relief to families, workers and others who are struggling. The Taoiseach should not tell us what he cannot do; he should tell us what he will do and address the issue of VAT. The Czech Republic, as he knows, has made a move to cut VAT on energy bills to 0%. I ask him to follow suit and give some relief to families and others who are really suffering.

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