Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I accept that some of this is generated from outside the State, particularly in respect of energy. Let us look at how Ireland was doing before this inflationary pressure kicked in. The cost of living in Ireland was 36% above the EU average. Our cost of housing is the highest in Europe. The cost of goods and services in Ireland is the second highest in Europe. Our fuel costs are the fourth highest. We are therefore not on a par with other countries in how this is having an impact. When inflation is added in, what is happening is putting people, especially those who were struggling anyway, into a very precarious position where they are actually choosing between heating their homes and putting food on the table. The change to the minimum wage has been more than eaten up by inflation. We are not on a par with other countries, and that needs to be looked at specifically.

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