Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the watch of this Government, workers and families are to the pin of their collars. Yesterday, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul warned that many are being forced to take out loans or get help from charities to cover school costs and so-called voluntary contributions. The Government has failed to do anything to tackle sky-high energy costs, unlike other European countries, refused to introduce mortgage interest relief despite thousands of families paying thousands of euro more every year just to keep a roof over their heads, has done nothing to tackle price gouging by large retailers, which it has acknowledged. Tonight, in fact, the Government will increase the cost of putting petrol or diesel in the car for those on their way to work in the morning. When will we see a coherent plan from the Government to ensure household costs come down and stay down? How, in the middle of doing little to reduce other household bills, can the Government justify increasing the price of petrol and diesel at midnight tonight?

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