Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Working people and the least well-off in our country are being absolutely crucified by the rising cost of living. The cost of energy is going up and there are unaffordable rents and real pay cuts for people, with inflation running way ahead of the pay increases received. People Before Profit has been very clear. We think that there should be controls on the cost of energy and on rents and that workers are entitled to a pay rise. The minimum wage should be increased and workers should put in pay claims. The Taoiseach set his face against all these things and said they would make the situation worse. Why does the Taoiseach say nothing about the price gouging and profiteering of the energy companies? The ESB made €616 million in profits in 2020 and that figure is expected to go over €700 million for 2021.

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