Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Government is detached from reality and completely self-absorbed. To come to this conclusion, all we have to do is listen to any interview with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, or the Taoiseach.

A recent EUROSTAT report from the European Commission revealed that Ireland was the most expensive EU country when it comes to the cost of living. Prices in Ireland were found to be a staggering 40% higher than the EU average in 2021 and matters have worsened significantly since then, as we all know. The report also revealed that, astonishingly, the cost of housing in Ireland was 88.5% higher than the EU average and a staggering 88% higher for utility bills such as electricity and gas. The average cost of food here was 17% higher than in the EU27 countries. These are the figures we are talking about. Milk, cheese and eggs were found to be an average of 25% higher in cost, fats and oils were 22% higher, while breads and cereals were typically 20% higher.

Despite Ireland's crippling cost of living, the Government has failed to act in any meaningful way, although EU governments have taken many measures to cut back on excise duties. The Rural Independent Group has tabled motions on this matter, as have other groups. Last night, there was another vote on a Sinn Féin motion. We also tabled a Private Members' motion last April asking the Government to axe the carbon tax, which would have the impact of putting approximately €8,000 directly into every person's pocket and knocking ten cents off the price of a litre of fuel by 2030, but that was rejected.

The Government has remained tone deaf on many issues, despite the people suffering. As I said, the current cost-of-living crisis is financially crippling lower income earners, including pensioners, struggling mortgage holders and, of course, the unemployed. It is also having a disproportionate impact on all residents and farmers throughout the country. Research has shown the impact of the crisis on rural dwellers has been much higher. We all know that from listening to people every day of the week. Rural communities and farmers face crippling costs for feed, fertilisers and fuel, which has the potential to wipe out many viable farms. That is the fact of it.

The Government brought in what I call an inept package. It is trying to play a three-card trick on the people by bringing in these little measures while taking so much excise duty from every litre of fuel. The public has copped on to this. The Government is glowing because of the tax receipts it is getting on the back of people's misery. As I said, not since the British landlords, who turned their eyes the other way at the time of the Famine, has any Government been so harsh, so inept in dealing with the problems and so uncaring about the people of Ireland. It is shocking.

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