Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is critically important because of the scale of the rise in costs that society is facing at present. There is deep concern following the Taoiseach's statement today about the increasing cost of fuel because of the Ukrainian crisis, on foot of the deal done last night in the European Parliament. People are genuinely terrified about what will happen and how they will be able to live. The summer months will be a little easier because if it is a good summer, as we hope it will be, there will obviously be reduced costs for people, but they are terrified of what will happen as they come into the winter. Community organisations are in the same position. Members of those organisations are talking personally about their projects and how they will fund themselves, but they are also talking about the people they work with. That is what they care most about and those people are the ones they are most concerned about. It is about having that impact, and sitting at the table having a real and genuine engagement and partnership with the Government and Departments, to ensure the things they are talking about and that matter to them are implemented.

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