Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I listened carefully to the Taoiseach's laundry list of measures. Certainly, we welcome progress where it occurs. However, the reality for families is that the cost-of-living crisis is not a once-off. It is an ongoing crisis where people are struggling to make ends meet. We have put forward constructive proposals. My colleague, Deputy Ged Nash, put forward a Bill to tackle price gouging in supermarkets. We are asking the Government to adopt that constructive proposal. However, the reality is we are seeing child poverty still at endemic levels and student poverty now a reality too. Today at six o'clock, our colleague, Senator Laura Harmon, has called a protest outside the Dáil, along with students' unions, to protest against a hike in student fees this year. That hike would put hard-pressed households under increased pressure.

I ask the Taoiseach again whether he can rule out that increase from €2,000 to €3,000 this year. Will he take on board the constructive Bill we have put forward to ensure price gouging by big retail chains can be tackled so that families will see their grocery bills reduce and at last see transparency in the profiteering of big supermarket brands?

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