Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to be associated with the comments of my colleague from Kildare in congratulating Leona Maguire on her historic win on Saturday night in the Ladies Professional Golf Association, LPGA, event. I was fortunate enough to watch the final couple of holes she played. What struck me most was her response in an interview immediately after the event. She said her success would encourage other lady sportspersons to follow in her footsteps. That she was in a position to say that immediately after winning her first event on the LPGA tour shows the strength of Leona's character and what she is doing for Irish sport. She is putting us on the international map. It is important that we recognise what she said and send our congratulations to her.

One issue has already been mentioned three times. It has dominated the conversations I have in my clinics and the calls and emails I have received. It also comes up in general conversation with people. Everyone is deeply concerned about the rising cost of living, not just for themselves but for their families. Last week, my party introduced a Private Members' Bill to address these concerns and other serious concerns many people have. Unfortunately, the Government did not support the Labour Party proposals. Those proposals included the introduction of a rent freeze, the provision of additional targeted support for those in energy poverty by widening access to the fuel allowance, targeted energy cost relief through a VAT reduction for all, seriously addressing the need to make education free and tackling the increased cost of transport, food and housing, among other measures. As has been said, we are now hearing that the Government will introduce a series of measures to relieve the financial pressure and burden on many people this week.I sincerely hope that those measures will include relief on fuel costs and further relief on energy bills. I have previously raised in this House the direction from our European colleagues that could allow the Government to reduce the VAT on energy bills, and even solid fuel prices, thereby putting money back into the pockets of those who need it most.

I also hope that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will use this crisis to reduce costs for commuters. Coming from the commuter county of Kildare, I have continually highlighted the unfair and discriminatory differences in pricing for train users in south Kildare compared to those in north Kildare. It is time that the Minister and the Government take public transport seriously. We need to reduce train fares from these stations in south Kildare to discourage those hard-pressed commuters from taking their cars onto the already packed M7 and N7 roads. We need a mini-budget to address this crisis. Too many need our help. They need somebody to help them.