Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

I welcome the motion from the Social Democrats. It is very important and opportune. Families across the country are struggling to make ends meet. The cost-of-living crisis is an ongoing crisis that is no longer temporary or once-off. Everything is going in one direction, which is up. This includes food prices, energy prices, rents, mortgages and transport. Energy prices, for instance, have increased significantly over the years and never come down. Our energy prices are one of the highest, if not the highest, in Europe. The Barnardos cost-of-living impact report yesterday confirmed a third of Irish families are in arrears with the their energy bills.

Grocery prices have similarly increased by a significant figure of over 36% in the last few years. That represents an increase in grocery bills for the average family of about €3,000 per year. Grocery prices are currently running at at least three times the rate of inflation. Prices of items like bread, milk, pasta and butter have skyrocketed. Supermarkets are gouging consumers and making huge profits, which are increasing annually. Unfortunately, we do not know the exact level of these profits because we have no evidence. These supermarkets either do not publish their annual audited figures or they effectively hide their profits, so we need an evidence-based system and information by law where these companies are forced to produce annual audited accounts.

Yesterday’s Barnardos report on the impact of the cost-of-living on families is hugely concerning and shameful. It states 12% of families now use a food bank, that 40% of them either skipped or reduced meal portions to ensure their children have enough to eat and that a third of families are in arrears with their energy bills. These are frightening statistics showing families are under huge pressure. It indicates the Minister of State’s Government is completely out of touch with a population that is under severe pressure in this area. To suggest there would be no cost-of-living package in the forthcoming budget is difficult to believe. That a government, in the face of all the evidence available, would claim there is no need for such a package is equally so.

I absolutely support the call by the Social Democrats for all retailers with a turnover of over €10 million to publish full, audited annual accounts and that the Consumer Protection Act be amended to compel disclosure of information. That is very important.

I strongly support Deputy Nash’s amendment to the motion. We have 250,000 children living in poverty in this State. The figure has not reduced in five years and it is shameful. A second tier of child benefit should target this issue in the upcoming budget.

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