Inflation at highest level in over 20 years
Local Labour Deputy Ged Nash has joined colleagues in the Labour Party to demand that the Government address the serious issues facing the Irish people due to the serious increases in the cost of living
“Ireland has a cost of living crisis” they say.” Prices are rising faster than wages. Inflation is the highest in over 20 years. The cost of energy bills, fuel, housing and food is rapidly increasing.
“Failure to act on the cost-of-living crisis in a whole-of-Government way will further reduce the living standards of millions of Irish people and condemn more people to poverty and homelessness.”
They have called on the Government to take a whole-of-Government approach to tackling the soaring cost of living.
Among the actions they have called for are:
Introduce an immediate rent freeze and a roadmap to reduce Irish mortgage interest rates to the EU average;
Provide an emergency energy costs relief package for households, which should include a temporary time-limited reduction in the VAT rate on energy and fuel up until the next Budget, and for the Minister for Finance to seek an EU derogation to allow for the long-term retention of the historic 13.5 per cent rate on electricity and gas after such a temporary VAT cut expires;
Introduce additional targeted supports for those in energy poverty by widening access to the fuel allowance, and commit to the introduction of a refundable carbon tax credit for low-income households to support the long-term phasing out of fossil fuels;
Support pay increases for workers across the economy in line with the rising cost of living;
Legislate to enhance collective and sectoral bargaining laws and frameworks to ensure that working people obtain a fairer share of the wealth they create;
Transform the National Minimum Wage to a living wage;
Provide for increases in social welfare payments linked to the rate of inflation, with a long-term commitment to bring weekly rates up to the minimum essential standard of living;
Introduce a windfall levy on excessive profits made in the energy, transport, housing and food sectors due to rising prices;
Take comprehensive action to make education free, introduce a universal public childcare model, bring forward the cap on childcare fees, and accelerate the implementation of Sláintecare;
Meet any additional costs of living with Covid-19 through 2022, including the proactive provision of antigen tests and FFP2 and medical grade face masks.
