The haulage industry is essential to Ireland's economy. It is not just about moving goods; it is about keeping local economies alive. Every shop shelf, building site and farm relies on a local driver and business to keep moving. The sector was already under considerable strain before this crisis. When the US and Israel began their war on Iran, which spread across the region, the pressure became unbearable. Despite this, the Government sat on its hands four weeks, prevaricating until people were forced onto the streets to make their voices heard. Only then did the Government take action. Still, it only came up with half measures and continued to overlook large swathes of our economy and society. Its measures fell far short. What about the 750,000 households who are reliant on home heating oil? Their prices have skyrocketed by over 70% and the Government had and still has no answers for them. What about the hundreds of thousands of households in energy arrears who are racking up record debt? What about the surging number of households that are having their electricity cut off? Where is the Government's answer to them? They have been abandoned and left out in the cold by this do nothing and out of touch Government. The truth is that we are living through a moment of unprecedented crisis, with record levels of households in arrears and skyrocketing numbers of people at risk of energy poverty. Yet, with each passing day things are deteriorating. Across the country, ordinary people are doing everything right. They are working hard, budgeting carefully and cutting back whenever they can but it is not good enough. This is no longer about tightening belts because, for many people, there is nothing left to cut. The reality is simple. People are struggling to heat their homes, face electricity bills they cannot afford and are paying more every week for fuel, groceries and the basics of daily life - none of these costs can be avoided. While all of that is happening, they are being told to wait for the next budget, even though the last did not have anything for working families. They are being told to wait for the markets to settle and to wait for help that never seems to arrive. That is not leadership; it is political failure. When people are forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table, the response cannot be half measures and recycled analyses. An emergency requires an emergency response. What we have seen so far simply does not meet the scale of the crisis. There is a growing disconnect between decision makers and ordinary people. We hear of strong public finances, healthy balance sheets and a surplus but in kitchens and sitting rooms across the country, there is no surplus. Their economy is wrecked. There is only stress, worry and fear about how bills will be paid. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are completely out of touch. This pressure is not only crushing households; it is putting an enormous strain on people and sectors to keep our communities alive. Hauliers are the perfect example. They are the backbone of our local and national economy. Hauliers are essential to every pharmacy that dispenses medicine. A truck is necessary to keep goods moving. These are often small family run businesses, providing stable and secure jobs, especially in rural and regional areas. They support local garages, mechanics, fuel and service providers and when haulage works, communities work. Fuel is not just another cost for hauliers. It is their livelihood. Rising diesel prices cannot be absorbed forever. When haulage firms are pushed to the brink, the consequences are severe. Jobs are lost, costs rise and ordinary consumers end up paying more. The same is true for farmers. They are under relentless pressure with fuel, electricity, fertiliser and feed costs, all of which have increased sharply. Yet, farmers have little control over the prices they receive and are being squeezed from every side. They are not just producers of food; they are the backbone of rural Ireland, sustaining local economies and, by and large, they spend their money locally. They keep communities alive. When farmers struggle, rural communities suffer and so does our food security. It is about protecting jobs, safeguarding supply chains and keeping local economies functioning. Supporting farmers and hauliers is not just about special treatment. Acknowledgement alone will not pay the bills. What is needed now is decisive action. That is why Sinn Féin is calling for an immediate emergency budget. The Exchequer is billions of euro in surplus but in the real world people are counting every cent to be able to afford the basics. People cannot wait until next year. We need a budget now and we have set out what clearly needs to be done. We need energy credits for households, a €500 payment for people with disabilities, a suite of measures to protect the most vulnerable and a permanent cut to the USC that puts €500 back in people's pockets. This must happen now. Ordinary people cannot wait again until the end of the year. It brings us back to the central issue, that of political choices. A cost-of-living crisis on this scale is not inevitable but how it is managed reflects priorities. It is a choice of whether to protect those who are already comfortable or to stand with workers, families and communities under pressure. Energy affordability is a clear example. High prices are not simply the result of global forces; they are shaped by how systems are designed, regulated and taxed. If energy remains treated primarily as a commodity for profit rather than a necessity, ordinary people will pay the price. Climate action is another area where fairness matters. Measures that increase living costs without realistic alternatives do not change behaviour; they deepen hardship. That transition must be a just one that brings people with it rather than leaving them behind. The crisis is about dignity, about whether people can live decent lives, heat their homes, put food on the table and plan for the future without constant anxiety.

Sentiment score: -0.04