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The price of potatoes was raised in the Dáil this afternoon. Alamy Stock Photo

'Cost of a bag of potatoes has doubled': Taoiseach told the cost-of-living crisis hasn't gone away

Martin indicated social protection and taxation would address the cost-of-living concerns.

SPIRALLING PRICES OF everyday products are “biting hard” for ordinary working people, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said today. 

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, she cited recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, which found that basic grocery products such as butter, cheese and potatoes have risen in price. 

“The price of a bag of potatoes has doubled. The price of other basic toiletries is absolutely sky high at this stage. And then rent goes up and up in the last year,” she said. 

McDonald said people have also seen their motor insurance go up by a 9% in 12 months, more than double the EU average. She said Irish people are also paying the highest electricity prices anywhere in Europe.

She urged the government to introduce cost-of-living measures to help households deal with rising prices and accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of “sitting on his hands” while workers are struggling to pay bills.

The Taoiseach has previously ruled out any further cost-of-living package in October’s budget.

Martin said that in the next budget they would “do everything we can to make sure that we can reduce pressures on families and on children” through social protection measures and taxation.

He told the Dáil there was no government across the EU which had provided as much in cost-of-living supports as Ireland.

McDonald said the government seemed oblivious to the pressures that people are under.

“You seem content to sit on your hands and do nothing while workers and families barely get by. On the watch of your government, households are hit with soaring costs right across the board,” she said.

“Hard-working people being fleeced left, right and centre. Many have very little left at the end of the week, forced to decide which bill to pay, which one to leave, forced to cut back on the basics. And a Government proclaiming that it will not act, that it will not help.

“It is not lost on anyone that at the same time you rule out help for ordinary people, you had no problem whatsoever delivering big pay hikes for your raft of junior and super junior ministers,” she added.

The Taoiseach said the government has made €7.3bn available in temporary expenditure and €9.3bn in recurring expenditure to support household incomes.

He said that in recent years, the level of inflation had an impact on households and businesses.

The Taoiseach added: “Our agenda and objective in the budget when it comes in the autumn will be to provide within the social protection payment programme and in terms of taxation, to do what we can to alleviate the pressures on people.

“We have had an exceptional period and the response has been exceptional by any yardstick.”

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    Mute Eamonn O'Hanrahan
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    Jun 4th 2024, 7:24 AM

    They describe a typical Dublin suburb, exciting stuff, surprised they allow comments on such an interesting story.

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    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
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    Jun 4th 2024, 2:06 PM

    @Eamonn O’Hanrahan: never look back in Ongar, I heard them say.

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    Mute Ajax Penumbra
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    Jun 4th 2024, 10:31 AM

    “Approximately six new homes” — only an approximation? You couldn’t go count them or anything?

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    Mute Rose Sheridan
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    Jun 4th 2024, 7:20 AM

    “WWE superstar Sheamus” crucial to what? Who or what is he? WWE stands for?

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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Jun 4th 2024, 9:23 AM

    @Rose Sheridan: Asking those questions in the comments section is the fastest way to an answer I’d say. Much better than, oh I don’t know, typing “WWE Sheamus” into Google?

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    Mute Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
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    Jun 4th 2024, 7:34 AM

    Sloppy, lazy journalism. Sheamus is from Cabra. A Google search could have told you that.

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    Mute honey badger
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    Jun 4th 2024, 7:55 AM

    @Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice: That explains why there used to be a big poster of him on an esb box on the Old Navan Road! Thank you. Case closed.

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    Mute Alex
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    Jun 4th 2024, 9:29 AM

    @Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice: He is from Clonsilla, it’s literally written on the WWE website, confirmed by him and on all wrestling bio websites.
    Your searches aren’t good.

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    Mute ben wu
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    Jun 4th 2024, 12:46 PM

    @Alex: On the WWE website it just says that he is from Dublin, the same goes for FoxSports.
    Never heard of him before and don’t know other sites to check beyond Wiki saying Cabra.

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    Mute Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
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    Jun 4th 2024, 1:32 PM

    @Alex: really. When I worked with him he was from Cabra. Even Google knows that. My searches aren’t necessary aa I got it from the man himself

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    Mute Lady Ruth Fitzmaurice
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    Jun 4th 2024, 1:32 PM

    @honey badger: exactly

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jun 4th 2024, 10:52 AM

    Between an Bord Pleanála and County Councils and greedy developers, they have created monsters out of our towns and villages. Time to take a more sensible and sympathetic approach to planning permission and development!!

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    Mute Reg McCabe
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    Jun 4th 2024, 4:53 PM

    What’s unique about Clonsilla and distinguishes it from other communities mentionef is the presence of the Royal canal. Access from the village to the canal as amenity needs to be improved. Also bordering the village is the iconic Deep Sinking gorge. Unbelievable the article contains no reference whatsoever to the canal and its potential. Lost in plain sight?

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jun 4th 2024, 9:58 AM

    They should be grateful to have feckin houses.

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    Mute Fran Mooney
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    Jun 4th 2024, 11:23 AM

    Great streetscape like swords, where did you get that from

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    Mute Mary.E.
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    Jun 4th 2024, 12:25 PM

    It may be an old building ,but the asking price certainly is not.

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    Mute Sean Money
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    Jun 4th 2024, 9:59 AM

    Shamus is a rough man and would put manners on you

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