Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

I thank the Social Democrats and will support this very important motion.

Since 2021, grocery costs have surged nearly 40%, adding €3,000 to annual family expenses and pushing more than 100,000 children into consistent poverty. These are some examples. Brennan's white bread, 800 g, increased from €1.87 in 2022 to €1.99 in 2025. Avonmore milk, 2 l, rose from €1.99 to €2.69. Denny sausages, 454 g, went from €2.69 to €3.89. Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, 110 g, increased from €1.49 to €2.50. A bottle of Coca-Cola rose from €2.65 to €4. A four-pack tin of beans jumped from €3.50 to €5.50. The price for 1 kg of chicken breast surged from €4.99 to €10.99. Rooster potatoes, 1 kg, increased from 99 cent to €1.90. Kerrygold butter, 454 g, went from €3.74 to €4.95.

Independent Ireland stands firm on reducing the cost of living, supporting rural, urban and agricultural communities and promoting transparency and fairness in the economic system. However, the Minister of State knows well the figures I have read out. The mother and the father who go into the shop daily and try to pay for their groceries are coming to the point that they cannot. They are walking out trying to see if there is a bargain in the next shop or the previous shop or up and down the street. It is a terrible situation. This Government has provided no supports this year, but last year, before the election, there were supports.

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