Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald clash over inflation pressures on families
Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald have clashed in the Dáil over inflationary pressures on families.Ms McDonald accused the Government of preparing to throw families “under the bus” in the upcoming budget, while Mr Martin said the Sinn Féin leader was “oblivious” to the economic climate.The Taoiseach said he would “test” Sinn Féin’s spending pledges, while Ms McDonald said he “couldn’t care less” about the cost pressures on families.The Sinn Féin leader read out in the Dáil the experiences of four people struggling with the cost of living, saying the cost of a weekly shop has gone up.She said the “kick in the teeth for people is that you flatly tell them that you’re not going to help”, after the Government said there will be no one-off measures in October’s budget.She acknowledged the economic uncertainty caused by Donald Trump’s threat of a 30% tariff on EU goods, but said working class families and young people would be “the real casualty” in that scenario.“Why? Because they have a Government that cares more about the high rollers, the big bankers, your squadrons of junior and super junior ministers, than you do about struggling households,” she told the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions on Wednesday.Mr Martin said he would “test” any budget measures put forward by Sinn Féin, accusing the party of offering to spend billions on whichever issue crops up.The Taoiseach said the Government understands there has been pressure on households since the end of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.He said cost-of-living packages were announced in subsequent budgets as a result, but this year offered a different economic scenario, which he accused Ms McDonald of being “oblivious” to.“I heard your spokesman talking about universal benefits for the high rollers. That’s what your spokesman Pearse Doherty said this morning.“He wants universal energy credits for the high incomes, for the high rollers. I will test you and your commitment and your principles.“Will you agree to targeting? Will you agree to prioritising those in respect of child poverty in the forthcoming budget? Because we will target and we will prioritise those most in need.”He said permanent measures such as the “gamechanger” free books scheme and hot school meals programme have also been implemented.Mr Martin added that Ireland’s 1.8% rate of inflation is the third lowest in the EU and is “mid-table” in relation to food prices.He said investment in the public’s future through spending on infrastructure is “important”.“For the first time ever now, we’re back to pre-famine population on the island of Ireland, that’s a positive, but we’ve got to provide for that in terms of our water infrastructure, in terms of housing, energy infrastructure, public transport and roads.“But there are limits to what any government can do, and you’re the opposition with no limits in terms of what you will spend.“It doesn’t matter, whatever turns up on any day, you will spend a billion or two billion on it, that’s your philosophy and that’s your mindset.”
