The credit union consumer sentiment index for April has been published and it lays bare the severity of the cost-of-living pressure on people, especially when it comes to soaring energy costs. It reveals that a third of consumers expect to cut energy use just to get by, while nine out of ten consumers fear that high energy costs will force them to cut back on household spending. The reality is that working people and families are struggling to stay afloat. A record number of households cannot pay their electricity bills, one in four cannot pay their gas bills and now they brace themselves for further electricity price hikes in the coming weeks. Workers and families are really, really worried about the time ahead, yet they see the Government refusing to listen and seemingly incapable of understanding the pressure they are under. Last October, the Government wanted people to believe that this was all over, and it could not have been more wrong. Since then, the Government's response has been all over the place. It has scrambled around taking a scattered approach, doing a bit here and a bit there but never showing the leadership required to truly grasp this crisis. What was needed from the Government was quick, decisive action to provide people with real relief and to give working households certainty for the time ahead. However, it is only when public anger grows that the Government moves. Twice, the Government has come to the table and twice the Government has got it badly wrong, with half measures each time and never being prepared to go far enough. It has left people to struggle on and to make do. Even when anger boiled into protest, it still failed to understand people's lives. Workers and families cannot take this any more. They cannot wait for any longer. We need an emergency budget. We have set out clearly what needs to be done, solutions that cut to the heart of the pressure people are under. We need energy credits for households, a €500 payment for people with disabilities and a suite of measures to protect the most vulnerable, and there must be relief for workers. Remember, the budget last October left them worse off. The Taoiseach will remember introducing the USC. It was brought in by Fianna Fáil when it crashed the Irish economy. It is a constant drag on people's wages and even more so during this cost-of-living crisis, so we propose a permanent USC cut that will put €500 back into workers' pockets. These are practical steps that can be taken right now to make a real difference and to lift some of the pressure people are under to make ends meet. Caithfidh Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael dúiseacht agus, i ndáiríre, géarchéim an costas maireachtála a thuiscint. Ní leor leath-iarracht. Tá cáinaisnéis éigeandála ag teastáil láithreach chun faoiseamh ceart a thabhairt d'oibrithe agus do theaghlaigh. Expecting households to cling on until next year's budget is not only unfair it is downright insulting. This cost-of-living crisis is happening now. The stress is at kitchen tables now and at this time. The Taoiseach needs to do his job and he needs to act to make life more affordable. The Government has a surplus of billions. A fraction of that would make a real difference. Bring forward an emergency budget and finally listen. Give workers and families the proper relief they deserve.
Sentiment score: -0.18
There was a cost-of-living crisis before the war in Iran. More than 300,000 households were already in energy arrears. This crisis has very deep roots. The Taoiseach failed to acknowledge that. The budget last October left workers worse off and left people with disabilities worse off. The Taoiseach failed to acknowledge that. Families and workers are really struggling and the Taoiseach has no response for them except to talk down to them and dismiss them. I have asked the Taoiseach to introduce an emergency budget. I have told him the very specific measures that we in Sinn Féin believe need to be taken, namely, energy credits, supports, including a disability payment, and, critically, a permanent cut in the USC. These are the things that need to happen if the Government is to be serious about assisting people in a time of crisis. Is it serious? Is it listening?
Sentiment score: -0.34
It is €3 billion.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is costed.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is not.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Taoiseach cannot count, a Cheann Comhairle. It is very-----
Sentiment score: 0.00