Ivana Bacik
Dublin Bay South · Labour Party · Ireland
“Just today I and other local representatives got an email from the owner of two restaurants in Dublin city centre about this issue. The Minister of State’s brief includes not only the circular economy but also small business.”
“The Bill Deputy Sherlock and the Labour Party are proposing is not one we suggest is a silver bullet or a panacea but it offers one small, constructive mechanism to address the dysfunction in waste services.”
“In Dublin Bay South we have superb Tidy Towns organisations that I am proud to work with from Ringsend and Sandymount across to Portobello in my area to Rathgar, Rathmines, Terenure, Donnybrook and Ballsbridge. We see really important work being done by Tidy Towns organisations.”
“The owner says he no longer has space to accommodate additional recycling bins, cannot leave recyclable waste out for collection and cannot leave flattened cardboard outside for collection. Private waste companies must send a vehicle to collect this directly from premises. This is costly, inefficient and unnecessary.”
“I do not mean just in Dublin, though Deputy Sherlock and I are focusing on Dublin and most of the TDs present are Dublin ones, as clearly this has ramifications across the country and the dissatisfaction and the concerns Deputy Sherlock’s constituents and mine are expressing are ones felt across the board.”
“We want to see a move, as Deputy Sherlock has it in the Bill, from competition in the market to competition for the market and this Bill would represent an important positive step on that journey to quality public services provided by the State and to remunicipalisation. Deputy Sherlock has set out the detailed provisions in the Bill.”
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“With respect, I do not need lectures on work and on jobs. We are the party of work. Labour is the party of workers' rights. We have a proud record on job creation. We absolutely agree with the Taoiseach that, of course, job creation and work is crucial, but I meet people all the time - the Taoiseach must meet them too - who tell me they are working hard, getting up early in the morning every day, to use an expression pioneered by one of his Government colleagues, and yet they cannot afford to meet basic household costs because of rising prices, rising costs, and the cost of childcare and the cost of housing, which are too high. Even though they are working, they simply cannot meet all of the costs they have to meet.”
“The Taoiseach's task, however, is to create a sustainable future, so we need to see the reinstatement of targeted energy credits, the extension of the ban on disconnections for families, and, crucially, a second targeted rate of child benefit now and not some time in the future. We need to see permanent abolition of the means test for the carer’s allowance and a cost-of-disability payment that is meaningful. Will the Taoiseach make the necessary choices in this budget to prioritise ending child poverty and providing supports for struggling households?”
“There are long-term impacts on those children and on their parents, who are suffering heartbreak as they watch this. There has been no indication from the Government that it will use its €9.4 billion to bring struggling families any meaningful respite in October. If, indeed, the Government is going to prioritise ineffective tax cuts in this budget, then it must be honest with the public and admit it will be at the expense of families struggling to stay afloat and families worrying how to keep lights on, how to keep the house warm, how to pay for Christmas and how to afford housing. That is the Government's choice in this budget. It is a political choice it will make. The media say the Government is not going to do a cost-of-living emergency package.”
“I could go on naming Government failures, but today I want to focus on one such failure touching every household in the country, creating new inequalities and deepening the plight of families fighting every day to keep afloat. I am talking about the cost-of-living crisis. Ireland is a rich country, but for far too many people it feels poor. Despite high GDP, child poverty rates now match those experienced by families after Fianna Fáil crashed the economy in 2007. This crisis is really hurting children more than anyone. We are seeing prices rising faster than wages, price gouging, which has taken root, and greedflation, with soaring food prices in particular. Energy and housing bills are among the highest in Europe. The impact on children is immense. One fifth of children now live in poverty. That is 225,000 children.”
“Sorry, I am rusty after the summer recess. It is good to be back in the Chamber and we have serious work to do here over the course of this Dáil term. For the Government, its long to-do list has lengthened over the summer months. There is so much for the Government to do. It must build homes. It must address the suffering of all of those locked out of secure housing. It must provide basic and effective healthcare, in particular to end the agony of children waiting for vital spinal surgeries. We have seen a shameful increase of nearly 10% since the start of the year, with 135 children now waiting. I want to join in expressing my deepest sympathies to the parents of young Harvey Morrison Sherratt. I spoke with Gillian, Harvey's mother, over recent weeks, and I want to note the dreadful trauma they went through.”
“I am hearing from families who are losing mortgage approval. They are losing it. It is running out because they cannot find homes to buy. There are simply not enough homes being built to meet the demand that is there. The tenant in situ scheme, which is supposed to save families from homelessness, is simply not working. Where is the radical reset and the Government approach, ambition and urgency needed to fix this housing crisis?”
“I am not hearing any acceptance of responsibility. The Taoiseach leads the Government. His party has the housing Ministry, and yet every time any of us in opposition raises the housing crisis with the Taoiseach, he seeks to deflect responsibility, putting it back on the Opposition and suggesting we have no policy. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am very proud of the Labour Party's housing policy. The Taoiseach clearly has not read it if he thinks we want to set up an entirely new agency. Our policy is about ensuring there is a State-led approach to the necessary investment that will deliver the homes people need and to ramp up the Land Development Agency, which we supported, to a point where it has capacity to deliver. That is what people want, and the Taoiseach is boasting about more people being able to get mortgage approval.”
“We are not surprised there is no apparent evidence from Fianna Fáil because it has form on giving us dodgy, non-evidence-based policies like the overstatement of the number of homes built last year by nearly 10,000 units. I will ask the question again. Where is the evidence that reducing apartment sizes will make any substantial reduction in apartment prices for hard-pressed people who simply want a home of their own?”
“It wants to reduce apartment sizes and remove the minimum 5% for community and cultural space. It denies this is being done at the behest of big developers. The Taoiseach has insisted that the change will reduce the cost of an apartment by between €50,000 and €100,000 but we have seen no evidence for this claim, just an internal summary of Land Development Agency research. At the housing committee, the Minister told my colleague, Deputy Sheehan, that the research would be published but he would not say when and the Bill is being rammed through the Dáil and Seanad this week. Yesterday, Deputy Sheehan asked the Taoiseach for the evidence there would be a reduction in the cost of apartments as a result of this change. The Taoiseach did not answer him either.”
“Instead, we have seen texts to journalists, press releases issued and worrying about the consequences later, along with the ill-fated notion of a housing tsar and tax breaks for the same developers who conspired with the Taoiseach's party years ago to create this housing mess. The announcement on rent pressure laws actually necessitated emergency legislation to avoid a flood of evictions. The Government's policies range from bewildering to certifiable. I will give an example. The Government claim to have passed a once-in-a-generation planning Act mere months ago but in our last sitting week before the recess, we are asked to amend that Act by the Minister for emergency legislation, as he might as well be called, before most of the big planning Act has even been commenced.”
“He said the Government would update compulsory purchase laws to tackle dereliction and promised to protect renters from abusive practices and soaring rents but there is no sign of effective action on any of this. Fianna Fáil is the largest party in government. It holds the housing Ministry and the office of An Taoiseach, so it holds all the cards. Where is the change the Taoiseach committed to delivering? So far, his big ideas have amounted to him or the Minister for housing licking their fingers and sticking them in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. There is no evidence base for Government policies.”
“I welcome young Olivia Nevin who is in the Gallery with her family. She is up from Cork for a birthday visit to Leinster House. The number of children in homelessness is hurtling towards the 5,000 mark. This would represent a truly shameful new record. The tenant in situ scheme can no longer keep families in their homes because the Department of housing has starved it of cash. Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council have stopped operating it altogether. Vacancy and dereliction blight our communities, a grim visual symbol of the housing crisis. As we approach the Dáil recess, the Government’s end-of-term report on housing is a clear fail. The Taoiseach said it would ramp up to deliver 60,000 new homes per year and continue the tenant in situ scheme.”
“There are many people with real concerns about the investor court provisions in CETA and the prospect of the undermining of our own courts. Could the Taoiseach address that concern?”
“I thank the Taoiseach for the update. I note the Taoiseach said there was ongoing engagement with Canada on seeking to work together to stop the brutal war in Gaza. Can the Taoiseach brief more on that and the steps that are ongoing with Canada on that? How closely are the EU and Canada engaging on the tariff threat? We have seen Trump threatening Canada with a further 35% tariff despite the blanket 25% already there. We have seen Canada scrapping a proposed digital services tax apparently in order to appease Trump and yet that has not made a difference. How are the EU and Canada engaging at leadership level to respond to the US and its dominant position on services, particularly tech, and the tariff threat? The Taoiseach referred to the Government's plan to ratify CETA.”
“Is there any sign of a change at EU level in respect of the ongoing carnage in Gaza? Are EU leaders moving any closer to any sort of agreed position on stronger sanctions against Israel?”
“A great deal has happened since 16 June when the Cabinet committee last met. I will come back to the question of tariffs, which I raised with the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions. The tariff of 30% now threatened by President Trump would, of course, be ruinous, as the Taoiseach rightly said, for EU-US trade. I asked the Taoiseach what the contingency plan is, given that the adjusted deadline is now 1 August. What is the contingency plan? If it appears, coming close to 1 August, that the EU negotiation side has not succeeded in stopping those tariffs coming into effect, will the Dáil be recalled? How will that impact budgetary preparations? The Taoiseach also mentioned that at the European Council meeting, Ukraine and Gaza were at the top of the agenda. Will he update us? Was any hope or prospect offered of an end to the war in Ukraine?”
“If the 30% tariffs proceed, does the Government anticipate having to revise the economic plan and will the Dáil be recalled at that point? I am conscious this is all very uncertain internationally but what is the contingency planning for Government? Finally, I welcomed the fact that the Tánaiste provided Opposition leaders with briefings at different stages of the process on tariffs and I would welcome that to be continued.”
“We have seen yet another Trump tariff turn with his 30% announcement - or threat at least - at the weekend. I know, as the Taoiseach has said, this would be ruinous both for the EU economy and the US. We have also seen the new deadline of 1 August. Speaking with small business owners, they say it is not a relief to see that extended. Rather, it prolongs the uncertainty for business in Ireland, as the Taoiseach will be aware. I am asking what the impact will be and what is the contingency. The Government has already indicated there will clearly be an impact on budget planning. Will he confirm when the summer economic statement will be published? Will there be a revised national development plan next week as we understand?”
“We have all listened to the families here who are really distressed that this trip is apparently not going to proceed because of actions or decisions by our own Department of foreign affairs. Can we at this point ensure that this visit goes ahead?”
“We will keep pressing on the occupied territories Bill, but there is more here in Ireland that the Taoiseach's Government could be doing to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and, in particular, the children of Palestine. First, I have been working for some months now seeking urgent action from the Government to bring desperately sick children out of Gaza on a medical evacuation with their families. We need to do more on that, and again I appeal to the Taoiseach and the justice and health Ministers on that. Further, in recent days, like so many others across the country, I have been really concerned to see the refusal of visas to the group of children and their mentors due to travel here from the West Bank with the GAA Palestine group. Is there anything that can be done at this stage to facilitate this group coming here?”
“Will he ensure that Ireland continues to be at the fore in pushing for a stronger stance from the EU to stop the genocide in Gaza?”
“It seems the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste recognise their obligation to ban such trade in services under EU and international law following the ICJ advisory opinion. In a recent meeting of the foreign affairs committee, the Department of foreign affairs also accepted that limiting a ban to trade on goods would leave the Government just partially compliant with international law. Under EU law, we know there is scope for member states to act unilaterally. Israel's war crimes create a clear and pressing obligation to end all trade in goods and services, just as Senator Frances Black's original Bill sought to do. Before the summer recess, will the Taoiseach give a commitment that the occupied territories Bill will cover goods and services?”
“We all want to hear from the Taoiseach a commitment that he will without delay facilitate the passage of the occupied territories Bill to ban trade in goods and services. We are prepared to sit over the summer, if needs be, to get that done. I have welcomed, as my Labour colleagues have, the positive steps the Taoiseach's Government has taken, and we acknowledge those, including support for the UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza and, crucially, recognition by Ireland of the State of Palestine. We welcome that, just as we welcomed last month's action by the Tánaiste, who was one of eight foreign ministers to write to the European Commission calling for a ban on all trade with Israeli settlements - in goods and services.”
“It asked it to pass the occupied territories Bill in full. That is what I want to raise with the Taoiseach today in the final sitting week before the recess. Gazan civil defence reports that more than 58,000 people in total have now been killed by Israel in Gaza. Those men, women, journalists, medics, aid workers and children are dead at the hands of Netanyahu's brutal regime, which is now facing criticism even from its own former leaders in Israel. The latter have described plans to resettle Gaza as akin to "a concentration camp". The gravity of a former Israeli Prime Minister using that language will be wasted on no one in this House. Who will say "Stop" and take action to force a stop to the genocide?”
“Last week, I joined an incredibly moving event on Kildare Street. It was organised by Grannies for Palestine. Its members unveiled a patchwork crochet banner that stretched the length of Kildare Street across the front of Leinster House. Devastatingly, each square in the banner was crafted to represent ten Gazan children who have been killed since Hamas's barbaric attack in October 2023. That means approximately 30 children have been killed every day in the nearly 650 days since Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza. Even since last week, we have seen horrific scenes. Six children were killed by an Israeli air strike while collecting water in Gaza this week. Even the Israel Defense Forces stated that this was an error. The protest group who were on Kildare Street last week had a clear ask of the Government.”
“I appeal to the Minister of State to use every lever in his power and that of the Government to hold off that threat of the far right-----”
“We are strong believers in the triple lock but we also believe in investing in the Defence Forces. Neutrality is not a cheap option and we need to see our Defence Forces properly supported and sustained. Regarding trade, I welcome the extension of the deadline for Trump's tariffs to 1 August. I agree on the point of zero-for-zero but, undoubtedly, there is immense uncertainty now for business across the country. I ask the Tánaiste to continue to provide briefings for Opposition leaders and spokespersons on progress made with tariff talks. It is extremely helpful for us to be kept informed of what is going on. Finally, I express my deep concern at the growth of the far right across the European Union. We are seeing it take control in certain governments and having a strong impact on policies in different member states.”
“Here at home, we need to see much stronger action, in particular on bringing children out of Gaza for humanitarian purposes. I listened earlier to the Taoiseach's response and it was unsatisfactory. I have met with Gazan families in my constituency. They are living in Merrion in the Sandymount area, and they are absolutely desperate because family members are being killed in Gaza while they await the visas and wait for the red tape to be cut through so they can bring over these desperately injured children and their siblings. I am appealing to the Minister of State again. I have spoken directly to the Ministers for health, justice and foreign affairs, but we need to do more on this. On the matters raised relating to EU security and defence, it is welcome to see strong recognition of Ireland's military neutrality.”
“It is appalling that association agreement is still in place. I also engaged on the need for other states to adopt Ireland's approach and bring in occupied territories legislation. I am conscious that we in opposition are pressing hard to ensure that the occupied territories Bill will include goods and services, crucially, but we also want to see similar legislation being brought forward in other member states, particularly states like Spain and Belgium, which have taken a strong stance in support of the people of Gaza. Spain, of course, has recognised the Palestinian state along with us. It is regrettable to see a block on stronger action against Israel from states like Hungary and again, I urge the Minister of State to please go further.”
“Across this House, there are such strong views and there is such strong distress at the appalling and ongoing brutality that is being inflicted upon the people of Gaza, upon civilians and upon children. In advance of my journey to Brussels, the Tánaiste and I spoke about how Ireland could press collectively, from both Government and Opposition side, for stronger action on Gaza and stronger action against Israel at EU level. I am glad to say I did engage directly with socialist leaders from Spain and other countries about the need to go further and, in particular, the need to suspend the association agreement. Again, it is a matter of regret that did not come out as a strong call from the Council meeting. I hope at the next level of engagement we will see a decision taken to suspend immediately that association agreement with Israel.”
“European Union membership for Ukraine is a vital component for the future of Ukraine. I ask that the Minister of State bring back, particularly to the Tánaiste, the question as to why a Russian ship was moored off Killiney Bay over recent days. I know they have moved on, but it is a cause of serious alarm to see them come so close to our shore when Russia is facing such strong sanctions. I note that Government representatives have been asking this question too. Second, on Gaza, clearly this is of the utmost and pressing importance at EU level and it is good to know it was discussed at Council, but it is hugely disappointing to see the lack of unity and lack of solidarity from the EU collectively with the people of Gaza as they endure Israel's appalling genocide. In Ireland, clearly, we have very strong views.”
“Others in attendance with me at that pre-summit meeting were obviously party leaders from socialist parties across Europe, including the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and some socialist Commissioners too, including Teresa Ribera, the Spanish Commissioner, with whom I engaged directly. I want to address a number of issues the Taoiseach raised. First, I will speak about Ukraine. I am really glad to hear the Taoiseach's reaffirmation of our strong solidarity with the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia's brutal and illegal invasion and aggression. I am glad we are supporting the strong sanctions the EU is to take against Russia. Indeed, I hope we will see strengthened sanctions against Russia. I hope we will also see greater progress on EU accession.”
“I thank the Taoiseach for the update on his attendance at the European Council. I attended the Party of European Socialists leaders' summit on the morning of the European Council in Brussels on 26 June. As the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, knows, there is a group leaders' summit in advance of Council meetings. We in the Labour Party are proud affiliates of the Party of European Socialists and, of course, our MEP in the Socialists and Democrats group is Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. I think I can say that it is good for Ireland that we now have an MEP in the S and D group in the European Parliament. It is the second largest group in the Parliament and, of course, it has a good deal of influence and impact on European decision-making.”
“Survivors need transparency, a plan for the implementation of all the recommendations from the Shannon review, and they say they are exhausted by delays and the tone of engagement they have received to date. What is the Taoiseach's view on this, and does he join us in supporting survivors' calls for a full public inquiry?”
“We know St. John Ambulance has paid money in settlements to a survivor who alleges sexual abuse in childhood by a former senior figure in St. John Ambulance. We are aware of further civil cases, and that some have been referred to An Garda. In 2023, the Shannon review confirmed systemic failures in St. John Ambulance from the sixties to the nineties. I note a recent statement from the Minister, Deputy Foley, confirming her Department provided funding for a 12-month period to ensure that all of Dr. Shannon's recommendations, including safeguarding, would be implemented in full. She also confirmed she had no plans to establish a statutory inquiry. That is regrettable.”
“As of September 2024, religious orders have paid just 16% of institutional redress costs that were owed but we know the money is there. Religious orders involved in historic abuse have sold more than 75 properties worth a total of over €90 million since 2016. We know these orders and their associated trusts own vast quantities of property and assets around the State. We are simply asking, as are survivors, that they be made to pay the redress they so clearly owe to survivors who were denied justice for so long.”
“We all want to see those accountable to be made to contribute. I welcome that the Government is exploring and examining legal options. However, this is not a new phenomenon; we have known about this issue for years. The Labour Party produced a Bill to ensure that we can pursue religious orders and unincorporated associations. I have sent the Taoiseach a copy I will send him another copy. We need this urgently. As we know, for years religious orders have been carrying out a perfectly legal practice of transferring their assets and their properties to associated lay-run trusts. I have described this as the developer's wife syndrome. In some cases it puts assets out of the reach of State authorities and it is not acceptable.”
“We need to go further than condemnation; we need to remove legal obstacles to pursuing religious orders. Labour produced a Bill to do that. Will the Government accept that Bill and move forward? Will the Taoiseach ensure redress is available to survivors within five years?”
“I think he might have misunderstood me because in his reply he said it would not be possible to set up a redress scheme in advance of an inquiry; I accept that. However, we asked that a redress scheme might run in parallel with the commission. We are conscious the commission will run for at least five years and we do not believe survivors should be forced to wait a further five years for the outcome of the process. Returning to the question of redress, survivors need assurance that organisations, religious bodies, religious orders and the church that were accountable and responsible for abuse should be made to pay. Church and State and also religious orders played a shameful role as we know. In particular within religious orders, clerics were allowed in some cases to perpetrate appalling crimes against children with impunity.”
“Even now it is really unfortunate that victims have been left waiting years for appropriate redress. We must ensure this new and welcome commission avoids the mistakes of the past. I welcome that the Taoiseach has spoken of an inclusive and survivor-led approach, which is vital. However, we also need to ensure that religious orders that were complicit in the sexual abuse of children should be required to provide appropriate redress to survivors. One survivor Louise O'Keeffe told "Morning Ireland" today that the framework is there. We must also ensure access to redress for survivors on a timely basis. I raised this with the Taoiseach during the Taoiseach's Questions session yesterday. I raised the question of a parallel redress process.”
“As a barrister, I represented survivors of abuse in court and before the Residential Institutions Redress Board in the past. There I witnessed the deeply traumatic impact that flawed procedures can have for survivors in bringing complaints of childhood abuse. Many survivors described to me their experience of being retraumatised by flawed and unduly complex and cumbersome processes, for example, before the redress board in the 1990s. More recently we know the terms of reference of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes excluded a great many people who had suffered immensely. In addition, when the work of the commission was completed, its findings found their way to survivors through a leak to the press, which was unacceptable.”
“I begin by welcoming an important young visitor Minnie McDermott to the Visitors Gallery. I again welcome yesterday's announcement about the establishment of a commission of investigation into sexual abuse in schools. I pay tribute, as I know we all do, to the Ryan brothers, David and the late Mark, for their bravery in stepping forward and speaking out about their experiences of abuse. We owe an immense debt to them and to all those survivors who have spoken out and shone a light into the dark and shameful past of abuse in schools. Their courage provided the impetus for Mary O'Toole's scoping inquiry which has now led to this commission. However, we must learn lessons from past investigations and inquiries, some of which we know failed to deliver truth, justice, accountability and indeed healing for victims and survivors.”
“This is a terrible prospect. The knock on effect for housing and climate is huge. There is no sense of urgency from Government on it. What is the contingency plan here?”
“It is likely to lead to more discharges of untreated water in Dublin Bay. We know there are already real difficulties with water quality, particularly at Sandymount Strand. What will be done at the highest level to ensure this treatment plant will be delivered on time? The Taoiseach may know I brought forward a Dublin Bay Bill some years ago, seeking a stronger, statutory framework to protect biodiversity and our beautiful bay area. Meanwhile, untreated water is flooding out to sea and Uisce Éireann has warned there are currently two options, given the long delays on the wastewater project. Either it stops new connections, which has a huge, knock on effect on stalling house building in Dublin, or it ignores the discharge licence requirement at Ringsend and risk more frequent spills of unfiltered water into the Irish Sea.”
“I spoke earlier about the major crisis in our public infrastructure that is clearly delaying progress on the construction of housing and, indeed, delaying progress towards meeting our climate targets. In particular, I speak about difficulties with energy and water infrastructure. I want to focus on water infrastructure because just at the end of May, the Government was warned by Uisce Éireann that house building in Dublin would stall within three years if the greater Dublin drainage project does not progress. Of course, this project was first proposed more than 20 years ago and was granted planning permission in 2019. This was quashed by the High Court. It is now back with An Bórd Pleanála for the past 11 months. This is putting increased pressure on the Ringsend wastewater plant.”
“First, what levers will he establish to ensure that religious institutions will pay their fair share of redress? We have a Labour Party Bill to remove legal obstacles to pursuing religious organisations and unincorporated associations. I will supply him with that, and he might consider taking it on board. Second, will he establish a parallel redress scheme for survivors, so they do not have to wait five years for the outcome of the report?”
“In terms of access to education for children with additional needs, I know Cara Darmody is speaking again today with Oireachtas Members about waiting lists for assessments for those with additional needs, and delays in accessing services and therapies. Will the Taoiseach confirm what extra capacity has been added to the system in recent months? Second, I welcome the announcement that the Minister for education has today confirmed the establishment of a commission of investigation into historical sexual abuse in schools. I pay tribute to survivors like Mark and David Ryan, to Mary O'Toole for her scoping report and to all of those who came forward to share their experience of abuse and shine a light into the dark and shameful corner of our history of education. I have two questions for the Taoiseach.”
“I welcome our visitors from Tipp. As I have strong Cork connections, I will just say, "May the best team win". That is safer. I will ask about an issue I have been raising with the Taoiseach for quite some time, which he has a long awareness of. It is justice for survivors of thalidomide. Activists from the Irish Thalidomide Association are wondering what the status of the thalidomide resolution process is. As the Taoiseach knows, for 63 years, families have been forced to do battle with the State. They were promised a short effective process by him and by the Government, but it has been anything but. Sadly, another thalidomide survivor, Jacqui Browne, passed away last month. Thalidomide survivors and their families have had such long delays in their quest for justice. What is the status of the thalidomide resolution process?”
“I ask the Taoiseach again whether he can rule out that increase from €2,000 to €3,000 this year. Will he take on board the constructive Bill we have put forward to ensure price gouging by big retail chains can be tackled so that families will see their grocery bills reduce and at last see transparency in the profiteering of big supermarket brands?”
“I listened carefully to the Taoiseach's laundry list of measures. Certainly, we welcome progress where it occurs. However, the reality for families is that the cost-of-living crisis is not a once-off. It is an ongoing crisis where people are struggling to make ends meet. We have put forward constructive proposals. My colleague, Deputy Ged Nash, put forward a Bill to tackle price gouging in supermarkets. We are asking the Government to adopt that constructive proposal. However, the reality is we are seeing child poverty still at endemic levels and student poverty now a reality too. Today at six o'clock, our colleague, Senator Laura Harmon, has called a protest outside the Dáil, along with students' unions, to protest against a hike in student fees this year. That hike would put hard-pressed households under increased pressure.”