Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

Admhaím go bhfuil brú. Gan amhras, tá brú ar dhaoine agus ar chosmhuintir na tíre maidir leis an gcostas maireachtála. Tá an-chuid déanta ag an Rialtas go dtí seo chun an brú sin a ísliú. An rud is tábhachtaí sna míonna atá le teacht ná cinneadh a dhéanamh infheistíocht a chur isteach in infreastruchtúr, cúrsaí tithíochta agus a lán nithe eile chun an brú sin a ísliú. Beidh sé sin á dhéanamh againn sa cháinaisnéis a bheidh againn i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. I dealt with this again yesterday. Deputy McDonald's assertion that the Government does not get it is wholly wrong. The Government understands there has been pressure since peak inflation of 10% coming out of Covid and as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This Government intervened, more than any other government in Europe, to alleviate pressures on households through cost-of-living packages and also through additional measures within budgets. We are facing a very difficult scenario in terms of the economic situation globally. The Deputy seems to be oblivious to the threats that are coming our way in respect of tariff wars or a dislocation in the global economy.

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