Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

I know the Taoiseach is going be very sad next week when my great county of Tipperary defeats, in fairness, his great county of Cork in the all-Ireland. I just want to condition him for that. I hope that sadness does not permeate elsewhere, particularly as the Government is doing the NDP and the summer economic statement. There has been a bit of conditioning coming from the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach over the past few days. As we know now, there will be no cost-of-living package etc., but the Tánaiste has said that "the budget will look to see how we can structurally reduce the cost base and the delivery of services". Inflation on food and drink is rampant, at 4.6%. Milk is up 14% and beef is up over 20%. I am intrigued. What structural reductions will come in so quickly that they will have a dramatic impact on people watching us here now as to how they can put food and drink on the table?

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