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Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Grocery prices in Ireland hiked overnight and men don't seem to get it'
I'm always giving out about the rising cost of groceries in Ireland. In the past few years, it's gone mad. But this year, prices seemed to hike up overnight. Consumer expert Conor Pope told recently how we're paying 40% more for shopping than we were in 2021. A weekly trolley that used to cost €150 now costs €225. That's an extra €3,000 a year on groceries, for exactly the same stuff. I reckon Pope is one of the few men who gets it. Apologies for the mass generalisation lads, but male eyes tend to glaze over if I say a package of coffee now costs €11, or a single fillet steak is now €16.60 in my local Tesco. They nod their heads, make sympathetic noises, but they haven't a baldy what I'm on about. Because they're generally not the ones who spend half their lives in and out of SuperValu, Tesco and Dunnes. I meet the odd fella who loves the bargains in Lidl, but most men hate supermarkets and their main aim is to get in and out of them as quickly as possible. They don't usually have a collection of clubcards, apps and money-off vouchers, working out how to buy the weekly shop on special offers. They're often the ones footing the bill, as men are still most likely to be the main breadwinners. But if you're not in the aisles, then you're not seeing food inflation play out in real time, not clocking its relentless rise. So I understand why an exasperated Mary Lou McDonald went postal over it in the Dail on Wednesday. She sounded like she was banging her head off a brick wall trying to get the message across to Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Mary Lou mocked Micheal for saying grocery prices were simply 'at a relatively elevated level' - saying they were through the roof. Groceries were costing families €1,000 a month, she said, which is 'beyond a joke.' Mary Lou McDonald TD, Sinn Fein leader, addressing the Raise the Roof rally, outside Leinster House, Tuesday 17th, June 2025. (Image: COLLINS PHOTO 2025) The Sinn Fein leader has made this a crusade - previously highlighting how butter is now a euro more than it was last year, and how a kilo of chicken that was €4.99 in 2022 is now €11. Micheal did the serious politician reaction, talking about global pressures and trades and tariffs and how the Government is limited in its ability. But that's no use to anyone. That's holding up your hands, helpless, saying: 'Nothing we can do.' That's a cop out. This is not happening at this rate everywhere, and it's disingenuous and dismissive to frame it so. We've all been away and noticed the huge difference at European checkouts. Figures released last month reveal food prices here are the third highest in the EU at almost 15% above average. Meat prices are up here 22% in the past year. Why? Supermarkets have denied accusations of price gouging, but in a climate like this, gouging is a real risk. Junior retail minister Alan Dillon acknowledged the impact on consumers and promised action, including new fines. We should come down hard on anyone in breach. But we should also be investigating why price hikes happened almost overnight. And why are some items far cheaper in small shops or convenience stores than they are in major supermarkets? In the meantime, it seems to me prices will continue to rise as long as we continue to pay them. I think the Government will be forced to put a cost-of-living package together, but only for the most in need. The squeezed middle will have to try to find ways around it. It's up to the consumer to limit the impact in the only way we can - buying special offers, giving up most expensive goods and switching to cheaper own brand products. If enough of us refuse to buy into food inflation, things will change. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Does a litre of milk cost more than a litre of petrol, as Mary Lou McDonald claimed?
THIS WEEK, SINN Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil that a litre of milk now costs more than a litre of petrol, which she presented as an example of the ongoing cost of living crisis. McDonald made her comment amid calls for the government to alleviate financial pressure on households with one-off measures in the next Budget – which Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has categorically ruled out . Addressing Taoiseach Micheál Martin during Leader's Questions on Wednesday, McDonald said: 'The Taoiseach described prices as being at a relatively elevated level. 'Those are his words. That was one for the books. Let me break it to him: prices are not relatively elevated, they are through the roof. 'The price of a litre of milk is now higher than a litre of petrol.' The night before McDonald spoke in the Dáil, the editor of the Irish Independent Fionnan Sheahan made the same comparison while referencing the price of Avonmore milk in an unspecified shop. '€1.79 for a litre of Avonmore milk – that's more expensive than petrol,' Sheahan said on Virgin Media's Tonight Show. The Journal contacted Sinn Féin and the office of Mary Lou McDonald, asking for the evidence on which she based her claim, but received no reply by the time of publication. After this article was published, a party spokesperson emailed The Journal two images: one showing a litre of Avonmore Supermilk priced at €1.75 on Tesco's online store; and another of Texaco garage in Cork city showing a litre of unleaded petrol priced at almost €1.70 and diesel at almost €1.65. Milk and petrol prices So is it true? First up, The Journal checked milk prices in a wide range of shops and supermarkets. In each case, we looked at the cost of a litre of whole milk from the different brands stocked by the shop. The survey did not include other kinds of milk, like low fat or skimmed. It should be noted that prices and brands, especially in small shops, may vary in different parts of the country. For the cost of petrol, we relied on data compiled by the AA, which publishes the average petrol prices in Ireland every month. According to the AA, the average price of petrol in June was €1.77 per litre , up from €1.76 in May. The AA does not break down the average price by location, but shows that the price of fuel varies between different companies and regions. A breakdown of milk prices shows that service stations and small shops charge much more than supermarkets. Most of the shops surveyed are located in Dublin, where McDonald lives. Here's how much a litre of milk costs in each shop , broken down by brand: Supermarkets: Lidl Coolree: €1.50 Aldi Clonbawn: €1.25 Supervalu Premier Dairies: €1.59 Avonmore: €1.59 Own brand: €1.25 Advertisement Tesco Premier Dairies: €1.59 Avonmore: €1.59 Own brand: €1.25 Litres of Premier Dairies, Avonmore and Tesco milk The Journal The Journal Dunnes Stores Premier Dairies: €1.59 Avonmore: €1.59 Donnybrook Fair Premier Dairies: €1.75 Avonmore: €1.79 Litres of Premier Dairies and Avonmore milk in Donnybrook Fair The Journal The Journal Smaller shops: Circle K Own brand: €1.70 Mace: Donegal Dairies €1.80 Spar Avonmore: €1.99 Daybreak Premier Dairies: €2.20 Avonmore: €2.20 Londis Premier Dairies: €2.25 Avonmore: €2.25 Conclusion Mary Lou McDonald was right about the price of milk increasing but whether or not it's more expensive than petrol depends on where you but it. The average price of a litre of milk sold in the supermarkets surveyed is €1.50, which is lower than the average price of petrol (€1.77). The average price in the smaller shops surveyed is €2.00, which is much higher than the average price of petrol. So whether it's more expensive than petrol or not, the price of milk is increasing a lot right now. According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which gives figures for the average cost of two litres of milk , the price has risen by 12% in the last 12 months – that's an increase of 27 cent. Correction: The original version of this article listed the price of Coolree milk in Lidl as €0.75. Lidl's price tag refers to the cost of Coolree milk per 500ml, so the correct price of a litre is €1.50. The Journal's FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Principles. You can read it here . For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader's Guide here . You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. Learn More Support The Journal
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
‘Rather be on the STREET as a unionist than living in a united Ireland'
Reunification? Or Reconciliation? Is the island of Ireland ready to unite? Twenty-seven years on from the Good Friday Agreement, politicians in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland rightly applaud just how far the region has come since the Troubles. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says that politics has changed, peace has been established – and now, during a visit to the UK to drum up support for a vote on Irish reunification, she's calling for a border poll within the next five years. The Northern Ireland Life and Times survey has been tracking community sentiments around that issue since 1998. And every year, the gap between those who oppose it and those who support it is getting smaller. As of 2024, the gap was just 6%: 42% oppose uniting with the Republic, while 36% support it. But when you break down who falls into those categories, you open up old wounds. Of those who oppose reunification, 74% were Protestant. Of those who support it, 68% were Catholic. So, despite what Mary Lou McDonald says, not everyone has moved on. Support or opposition to British alignment still falls very clearly along religious lines. This year's Unionist celebration of Marching Season in Northern Ireland reinforced that. On one bonfire was a message using a Catholic slur — pointing to violence against that community. It was later removed, but it's clear that for some, the sentiment remains. So — on this edition of CounterPoints we ask: Is Irish reunification inevitable? Could a border poll reignite sectarian violence? And why is Sinn Féin pushing the issue now?
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Poll shows steady support for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil but drop for Sinn Féin
A new opinion poll has shown steady support for the Government parties, but support for Sinn Féin has fallen. The Irish Times Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows support for Fianna Fáil remains the same at 22 per cent, while support for Fine Gael is up by one to 17 per cent. Advertisement Support for Sinn Féin has fallen by four per cent to 22 per cent. The Independents saw a big rise in support to 22 per cent, a rise of five per cent since April. The Social Democrats are at six per cent, a drop of one, while the support for the Labour party has fallen to four per cent. The Green Party remain unchanged at three per cent, while People Before Profit have dropped to two per cent, while Aontú have rise to two per cent. Micheál Martin remains the most popular party leader at 44 per cent, a drop of one. Simon Harris has seen his support drop by four to 38 per cent, while Mary Lou McDonald's support has decreased by one per cent to 36 per cent. Those satisfied with the Government remaisn the same at 36 per cent.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on the latest opinion poll: Coalition not inspiring the electorate
A jump in support for Independents is one of the most notable features of the latest Irish Times Ipsos B&A poll. The poll shows a minimal change in support for the Coalition parties since the last poll in April but Sinn Féin is down four points while Labour and the Social Democrats have slipped by a point and the Greens have remained static. It appears that voters who are disillusioned with the Government are moving towards Independents rather than Sinn Féin or the other more established left wing parties, while the number of undecided voters now stands at a significant 25 per cent. The huge number of undecided voters and the rise in support for Independents indicates that a substantial segment of the electorate does not have great faith in either Government or Opposition. There is some consolation for the Government in the fact that the Opposition parties are actually losing support, but the poll also indicates that the Coalition has inspired no great enthusiasm among the electorate since taking office just over six months ago. In the longer term that could spell trouble, particularly if the Government has to adopt serious budgetary measures in response to a trans-Atlantic trade war. READ MORE When it comes to satisfaction with the party leaders, Micheál Martin has widened his lead over Simon Harris and Mary Lou McDonald while satisfaction with the Government has remained the same since April. In party terms Fianna Fáil has seen no change in support since April, retaining 22 per cent of the vote. Sinn Féin has exactly the same vote share but this represents a drop of four points since the last poll while Fine Gael has gained one point from a very low base to 17 per cent. The Fine Gael vote in Dublin is holding up reasonably well and it is the biggest party in the capital, marginally ahead of Sinn Féin and well ahead of its Coalition partner. However, the party appears to have a serious problem in Munster where it continues to struggle. For Fianna Fáil the story is the reverse. The party's vote is holding up well everywhere, apart from Dublin where it continues to languish in third place. Sinn Féin will be disappointed not to have built on the significant increase it achieved in the last poll. Instead its support has slipped back close to what it achieved in last year's election. It indicates the challenge facing the party if it runs a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. It all indicates a fractured political landscape and uncertainty among many voters about which party should get their support. A vital period now lies ahead, with the tariff situation on a knife-edge and the budget coming into view. The decisions made in the coming months could yet be defining for this Dáil term.
