It feels in many ways like Groundhog Day talking again about a cost-of-living crisis. Of course, this cost-of-living crisis comes on top of a cost-of-living crisis that had not gone away, despite what the Government pretended at the time of the budget. The result is people again choosing between heating or eating, with fuel prices spiralling and people in crisis situations. What lies behind it is a US and Israeli criminal and imperialist attack on Iran, which the Government refuses to condemn and to say is in breach of international law. What lies behind that is our continued reliance on fossil fuels and most immediately is short-term profiteering, which we know, in the previous cost-of-living crisis was responsible for two thirds of the price increases. The Government's response, to quote the Taoiseach, is to say that we have to respond in a measured, balanced way that targets our resources and that is effective, and that we understand the pressure people are under. I do not believe that. I do not believe a government that understands the pressure people are under would have cut incomes for the poorest people in the most recent budget. I do not believe such a government would have cut income for disabled people by over €1,400. The action that should be taken is very simple. It is not putting the profits of the corporations first. It means scrapping the carbon tax and putting an energy levy on data centres instead, abolishing standing charges for electricity and gas, immediately reintroducing energy credits to tackle people's home energy bills in the short term and link that to price caps. We have a Bill to do precisely that, introducing a €1 per litre price cap on home heating oil as well as caps on petrol, diesel and home energy, and linking that to the idea of renationalising our energy system. We used to have the cheapest electricity in Europe. We now have the most expensive as a result of the failed project of liberalisation. Put people first, not the profits of corporations.

Sentiment score: -0.26