Could the Government be any less caring on this issue? It has not put forward a solitary meaningful measure. Let us start with the Minister of State's claim that the best way out of poverty is through employment. That absolutely is no longer the case. There are tens of thousands of workers living in poverty because of the cost of living, including the cost of childcare, housing, electricity and insurance for cars and so on. He cites statistics to show the economy is doing well but we all know we have a problem in Ireland with the leprechaun economics of GNP and GDP. The economy doing well is not a barometer that shows we do not have a high cost of living. That is the reality. The statistics are distorted very much by high earners and those at the top with wealth. The actions called for in the motion are incredibly reasonable. Stopping price gouging by food and energy companies is something the Government could actively do. Another suggestion is introducing price controls on food, electricity, gas and fuel. When we were all growing up, the State used to own ESB. What was wrong with that? The idea that competition would bring down prices has been proven to be a fallacy. It would be a hugely popular move if the State, rather than letting people be ripped off, took control of electricity, an essential of life, and reduced its price to the lowest possible level. The motion proposes implementing a rent freeze, introducing a living wage, benchmarking social welfare increases to the minimum standard of living index and introducing a weekly cost-of-disability payment. A reduction in childcare costs to €200 per month, as promised in the election but since studiously forgotten, would make such a change in so many workers' lives. Introducing free public transport is something the Government could do that would be hugely beneficial for commuters and for the environment as well. Other proposals in the motion are for a second, targeted tier of child benefit payments and the reinstatement of energy credits. What we need in this country is a complete shifting of wealth. Ireland has the worst figures in Europe for the share of wealth that goes to capital versus labour. The Government's amendment refers to Ireland being in the middle when we adjust for purchasing power parity. This uses figures that are completely different from the reality. We have the second highest prices in Europe, at 38% above the EU average. Restaurant prices are 29% above average, we are the most expensive for electricity, gas and fuel, housing is 50% more expensive and childcare is 58% dearer than the EU average. We have the most expensive transport and public transport costs. Irish people also have medical costs that do not arise in other European countries, such as when people have to go to the GP because they are sick or their child is ill. Another aspect to consider is the gendered nature of the cost of living. A total of 22% of female workers, or nearly one in four, are in the lowest-paid employment sectors in our economy. Women are paying much more and suffering much more because of the cost of living. They would be so in any case because it tends to be women heading up the one-parent families that are the most impoverished in this country. The same arises with disabled people. I am shocked by just how little focus the Government has given to them. We need the trade union movement in this country to act on this issue. The unions' leadership has been completely silent as the massive cost-of-living crisis has engulfed workers. It is as though that crisis is finished. It is not finished. Just because the Government is no longer giving targeted supports does not mean people are okay. They are not okay. I would like to see the trade union membership fighting for bigger pay increases and taking on and challenging the status quo that deems that workers should pay higher costs again and again.

Sentiment score: 0.01