A Government minister has said “populist outrage” seen in opposition Budget proposals will be ignored, despite recent criticism of how the Government has handled cost-of-living challenges, reports Breaking News.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan defended the coalition’s efforts to help households manage living expenses while responding to Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticised the Government for ending bill supports for consumers as four energy providers prepare to raise electricity prices, reports Breaking News.
Senior members of the Government have already indicated that temporary cost-of-living measures, which featured in previous Budgets, will no longer be part of the current fiscal strategy.
The next Budget will be unveiled on October 7th.
Ms McDonald said: “Hundreds of thousands of households will be forced to pay out even more for their electricity,” reports Breaking News.
“Some 300,000 households, remember, are already unable to afford their electricity bills and these are working people who just cannot keep up. Yet, the Government waltzes in to withdraw energy credits when they will be so desperately needed,” reports Breaking News.
Speaking in the chamber, she accused the Government of being “out of touch” and insisted that the upcoming Budget must focus on “ending the rip-off, getting costs under control and supporting workers and families.”
She said that many households are unable to cope financially, claiming that families are “hammered by soaring prices at every turn,” reports Breaking News.
Ms McDonald continued: “Under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, living costs have become unaffordable and people cannot believe their ears when they hear the Government dig in and insist it will not take action to tackle the crisis,” reports Breaking News.
She called on the Government to shield families from electricity price hikes by continuing the energy credit scheme.
In reply, Mr O’Callaghan argued that the Government had taken significant steps to address cost-of-living issues.
The minister noted that earlier Budgets included energy credits and other one-off payments, which he said were not backed by Sinn Féin at the time.
“If you look at Budget 2025 you can see that there is a whole wide range of measures that were introduced which had the effect of protecting members of the public from the excessive costs that were rising as a result of inflation,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“You can see that we introduced an increased payment in respect of the rent tax credit from 1,000 to 2,000 euro. There was the extension of the 9% reduced VAT rate for gas and electricity. And that was a very real measure that was introduced for the purpose of ensuring that we did reduce the cost of energy for householders. We also saw the extension of the mortgage interest relief until the end of 2025 and the 300 euro lump sum payment in respect of the fuel allowance, and that’s not even getting to the double month child benefit payment,” reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Callaghan acknowledged that energy credits had been highly effective, but pointed out they were introduced during a time when inflation was “out of control.”
He said inflationary pressures have now eased.
“When the Government comes to announce the Budget in two weeks from now, there will be measures in that that will have hard-pressed families at the centre of considerations,” he said, reports Breaking News.
“What I’m not going to do, however, is pre-announce the Budget here today,” reports Breaking News.
He added that Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers, will “read carefully” the Budget submissions presented by opposition parties.
“If there are good proposals in it, they’ll give them consideration,” he said. “If there aren’t, and it’s just populist outrage, they’ll ignore them,” reports Breaking News.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
