Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

Ní aontaím in aon chor leis an Teachta. Tá an-chuid déanta ag an Rialtas seo maidir leis an gcostas maireachtála. Tá i bhfad níos mó déanta againn ná aon rialtas riamh i stair na tíre. Tá an-chuid déanta againn maidir le teaghlaigh ar ioncam íseal sa tír seo go háirithe. Is é an rud agus an cinneadh a rinneamar ná níos mó a thabhairt do dhaoine atá ag fulaingt agus faoi bhrú.

I reject completely the Deputy's assertion that the Government has not responded to the cost-of-living issues. Without question, over the past three to four years there has been a significant increase in inflation, particularly in the immediate aftermath of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which had a damaging impact on energy prices. Inflation went as high as 10%. The inflation rate is now back down to about 2%. The IMF is saying that in Ireland's case, it will come down to about 1.7% over the next two years. I acknowledge that there is elevated pressure and that prices are at a higher level because of that inflationary period, but remember that we brought in free schoolbooks for every child in this country and free hot school meals for every school. We also reduced transport costs. We reduced drug payment costs significantly over the past number of years and extended eligibility for access to general practitioners, which eases the cost of living in a permanent way for many families.

The Deputy ignores all of that and condemns us for not giving energy credits to the wealthiest in society. That is Sinn Féin's argument here this morning. I know what Sinn Féin said during the energy crisis. It took the Liz Truss approach to dealing with it and wanted to bail out the companies.

See this speech in context