Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The cost-of living crisis is happening right here, right now. It will happen all the way through to the budget and continue after the budget. That is the truth of it. We are facing a global inflation crisis and it will not end because of any budget, whether that is an emergency budget before the autumn or one in autumn. This is something with which we will be grappling for months if not years ahead. It is caused by number of factors, of which the Deputy is very aware, that are very much internationally driven.

There is no doubt that if we bring forward an emergency budget a few weeks time or a regular budget in the autumn, the first thing the Deputy will say is that it is inadequate and within weeks or months he will be calling for another emergency budget. This is what we will see for the next year or two from Sinn Féin, and that is fine. However, the Government has acted already. We have acted since the budget and over the summer other measures will take effect, including pay increases for some people and in the public service, the back to school footwear allowance and the improvements in the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, grant for third level. Then we will have another package in autumn in the budget.

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