Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I wish to acknowledge the measures that the Government took in dealing with the cost of living issue. Measures such as those to help with energy costs and the school bus ticket, among many others, were very welcome. They helped with the more intense pressure. Inflation has eased, as the Minister said.

It still remains high and the pressure is on people. Food prices, for example, in May were running 12.5% higher than they had been in May of last year. Mortgage interest rates have gone from 0.5% to 4% over the last year. Households have to find several hundred euro extra each month, which is very difficult. As the Minister says, real wages have been dropping by €76 over the last two years, according to a survey by the Unite trade union. This pressure on people’s income means that people will be looking either for wage increases or possibly the easing of tax burdens. I want to try to get an understanding of what direction the Minister is looking at in supporting them.

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