Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is 13 days since the Government voted down a comprehensive Labour Party motion on the cost of living, 13 more days lost as the bills piled up. We have tabled a range of comprehensive proposals on energy taxes, VAT, social welfare and wages. Bills are up more than 30% for fuel, electricity and gas. Prices for other utilities and food are rising sharply.

The Taoiseach knows that the rate of home ownership has fallen significantly among young people. More and more are stuck renting at unaffordable prices. For years, we have been calling for a rent freeze. Those calls have been ignored. For those young people who are trying to save for a deposit, their dreams are getting more and more out of reach as their everyday bills rise. Good GDP figures and strong tax returns mean very little if this country is not working for them.

The poverty of imagination on the part of the Government is baffling. So far, the only tangible practical proposal from the Government has been a tokenistic €113 off the payment for electricity bills. Of course that may be increased - we do not know yet - but it is a drop in the ocean compared to the rising costs that people face.

Yesterday's great idea from a Minister of State in the Department of Finance was that people should stop complaining and shop around.

Changing your electricity or gas supplier will not help when prices have soared by so much. It is too late to shop around when you hit the checkout and do not have enough money to pay the cashier.

The big news from the Government today is a new retrofit scheme. From what we know about the scheme, it is likely to be unaffordable to many. From the Minister of State's remarks yesterday, it is clear the Government is already well and truly insulated from the reality of life for so many families.

The Taoiseach has ruled out a mini-budget, which tells me his plans will simply not go far enough. Without a commitment to a finance or social welfare Bill, we get just a small number of tweaks, changes and token measures here and there that will not cut it. For those on low and fixed incomes, the only action that will really help is an increase in wages. Ireland has a problem with low pay; Ireland needs a pay rise. We need to understand why working people are struggling to get by to pay for the basics. Over 20% of Irish workers are low paid. We spend billions every year subsidising low pay to lift people out of wage poverty. It is absolutely bizarre that, two weeks ago, the Taoiseach set his face against wage rises. Wage rises for low- and middle-income workers do not have the inflationary impact he thinks, yet he has advised workers not to seek inflation-beating pay rises. We do not see any direction from him to companies to hold back on price rises. Therefore, profits can be protected but not wages. Is that the case? If so, it is not on. Will the Taoiseach heed SIPTU's calls for pay rises? Will the Government lead on this by asking the Low Pay Commission to convert the minimum wage to a living wage? Can the Taoiseach tell the House whether he is completely ruling out the prospect of a mini-budget?

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