Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald clash over inflation 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.'
Read More
MABS sees 10% surge in families in debt due to soaring cost of living
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
40 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Govt infighting over ‘uncomfortable' blanket €1bn VAT slash for Irish hospitality as Budget 2026 income tax cuts wanted
THE Coalition is in a food fight over the proposed VAT cut for restaurants and cafes. And a Advertisement Last month, However, this move would cost €1billion with Finance Minister This sparked concerns that there will be little to no income tax cuts for hard-pressed workers. Advertisement Read more in Money The The Minister of State in the Department of Justice claimed that there are many workers who will want to see income tax cuts in the budget too. He told Limerick Live 95fm: 'If we are to have a tax package of €1.5billion... I want to see it spread as wide and as deep as possible.' Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Breaking Latest The Fianna Fail rep push back on the full VAT rate cut for the hospitality sector comes amid reports that the tax break for businesses will be postponed until the second half of next year. Briefings from Government sources quoted across a range of news outlets today pointed to the VAT rate not kicking in until the second half of 2026. Cost Crisis Hitting Irish Businesses And Causing Closure Havoc This would see the €1billion price tag of such a VAT cut lowered and would leave the Finance Minister with more cash to use for income tax cuts in the budget. Earlier this week, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe warned that tough decisions will have to be made in the budget as he will not be going above the €1.5billion tax package. Advertisement He said: 'It would not be right to grow the scale of our tax package with everything that we are confronting at the moment.' 'ECONOMIC VANDALISM' The Minister revealed that the full year cost of a VAT cut for just restaurants and cafes would be around €1billion. This sparked a furious reaction from trade unions who feared that the Government's commitment to the hospitality sector VAT cut would come at the cost of having no income tax cuts for workers. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions urged the Government to drop the €1billion tax cut for the hospitality sector as they claimed it was 'economic vandalism'. Advertisement 1 The Coalition is at odds over the proposed VAT cut for restaurants and cafes Credit: Getty
The Journal
an hour ago
- The Journal
Zelenskyy approves new anti-corruption bill after law change sparked protests across Ukraine
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR Zelenskyy has approved a draft bill guaranteeing the freedom of the country's anti-corruption bodies, after nationwide protests over changes curbing their independence. The changes gave the country's prosecutor general – who is appointed by the president – control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, effectively erasing the independence of the two bodies. Critics said that this would mean that Ukraine's parliament will have the ability to control which cases are pursued. Thousands took to the streets across Ukraine to protest against the changes in what were the country's first large-scale demonstrations since Russia's invasion more than three years ago. Thousands of people protesting against a law targeting anti-corruption institutions near the President's Office in Kyiv, Ukraine on Wednesday. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The changes also raised concerns in the EU, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen demanding 'explanations' from Zelenskyy. With Ukraine pushing to join the bloc, the EU has said that reforms are essential for Ukraine's accession process. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy promised he would propose a new bill on anti-graft agencies to parliament. Advertisement In a statement on social media this afternoon, he said: 'I have just approved the text of a draft law that guarantees real strengthening of the rule of law in Ukraine, independence of anti-corruption bodies and reliable protection of the rule of law from any Russian influence or interference.' He said the new bill would be submitted to parliament today. I've just approved the text of a draft bill that guarantees real strengthening of Ukraine's law enforcement system, independence of anti-corruption agencies, and reliable protection of the law enforcement system against any Russian influence or interference. The text is… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 24, 2025 'It is important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine,' he added. The EU has welcomed the move, adding that Kyiv has to address concerns from Brussels. 'We have seen that the Ukrainian government has taken action,' EU spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said. 'We welcome that action, and indeed we work with them to make sure that these concerns regarding the fight against corruption, which is an extremely important priority for us and for Ukraine as well, are indeed correctly addressed,' he added. Ukraine's two anti-corruption bodies, NABU and SAPO, were born a decade ago in the wake of the 2014 Maidan revolution. Those pro-European protests, centred on Kyiv's main square, also called Maidan, ousted a Kremlin-backed leader who scrapped a key partnership agreement with the EU. Related Reads Ukrainians take to the streets after Zelenskyy signs new law that targets anti-corruption bodies The Kremlin, which refused to accept Ukraine's democratic turn toward Europe, then launched a first assault over Ukraine that led Moscow-backed separatists to occupy Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region. Some fear that a political crisis over the legislation could work in Russia's favour by undermining unity within the country, which is struggling to hold the front. With reporting from © AFP 2025 Want to know more about what's happening in Ukraine and why? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Government revenue from taxing fossil fuels expected to drop
New documents published by the Department of Finance have warned that the Government's revenue from taxing fossil fuels will drop as consumers move to using electric cars and heat pumps. The Tax Strategy Group paper says as the reliance on fossil fuels declines for energy and transport, the revenue raised by environmental taxes will also reduce. The paper takes into consideration Ireland's legally binding climate commitment to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 51% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It highlights that over the next six years (from 2025 to 2030), it is projected that the net carbon tax volume levels of mineral oils, solid fuels and natural gas usage will fall, and estimates indicate that net carbon tax energy related CO2 emissions will also decline. In the longer term, this will mean revenues raised by environmental taxes, such as the Carbon Tax, derived mainly from home heating, petrol and diesel, will decrease and will need to be replaced by other revenue raising measures. The group's paper notes that while taxation of energy products should incentivise consumers and industry to make better choices for the environment, policy consideration of any tax measure needs also to be cognisant of a range of factors. These include the impact on the Exchequer, availability of viable alternatives, competitiveness impacts, potential regressive impacts and interaction with adjacent policy measures. Budget options to raise money The paper recommends budget options, including fiscal measures, to potentially raise money for the Exchequer and encourage behavioural change linked with reducing road transport emissions. It suggests if a 1% VRT rate increase was considered across bands 11-20, such as hatchbacks and SUVs, which would only affect cars with above average emissions, then it is estimated to raise €28 million based on 2024 registrations. While increasing the VRT Nitrogen Oxide surcharge by €5 per mg/km across all thresholds would raise €15.5 million (based on 2024 data). It also examines emissions-based VRT for Category B vehicles or light commercial vans, suggesting an option for an increased rate of 15% for vehicles with emissions of 261g/km and over. According to data from SIMI to year end in May, the market share for light commercial vehicles is 93.2% diesel and 4.4% electric. However, there is growth in the EV market share compared to 2024 figures, although it also noted a year-on-year decline in light commercial vehicle registrations. Based on Revenue data from 2024, the paper suggests the net impact of the introduction of a surcharge rate of 15%, taking into account the 8% rate effective from July, for vehicles with emissions of >260g CO2 per km is estimated at being in the region of €1 million. It also outlines an option to reduce the Benefit in Kind (BIK) liability for zero emission vehicles to increase the uptake in the corporate fleet, and future options that may include the introduction of an emissions-based BIK rate for vans.
