McDonald criticises ‘do-nothing government’ ahead of Dáil recess

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Dáil is rising for the summer after six months of a “do-nothing government”, Sinn Féin has claimed.

The Dáil will rise ahead of the summer recess on Thursday and will not be due to return until September 17th.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticised Government leaders ruling out a “cost-of-living package” in October’s budget.

She said election-time promises from Government parties were “disappearing like snow off a ditch” at a time when people are hit by “skyrocketing prices from every direction”.

Addressing Taoiseach Micheál Martin during Leaders’ Questions on Tuesday, Ms McDonald said: “People, frankly, can’t believe their ears when they hear you talk as if sky-high living costs they experience every day are a thing of the past.

“Extortionate prices are not past tense, Taoiseach, people are being fleeced now today, fleeced when they open their electricity and gas bill, when they get to checkout with the weekly shop, when they go to fill the car, when they go to buy basic toiletries like toothpaste or shampoo.

“The out-of-control cost of living is making it so hard for working people to keep their heads above water now, as we speak, and so for you to tell households that you’re not going to help them shows that you really don’t understand the pressure that people are under.”

Ms McDonald said households in Ireland are paying 30 per cent more on their electricity bills each year compared to the EU average, adding that the Government should include a measure on energy bills in the Budget.

She added: “We’ve had six months of your do-nothing government, and now as the Dáil for the summer, you leave people only with stress and uncertainty.

“People facing big rent hikes next year, thanks to you, students and their families facing a big hike in college fees, thanks to you, and thanks to you, tens of thousands of families left without cost-of-living supports and wondering how on earth they will make them through the winter.”

Mr Martin said the Government had done more than any other European counterpart to “cushion” the impact of cost-of-living increases following Covid-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Among a list of examples of steps taken by Government, he said the VAT reduction on gas and electricity had been extended and added there would be an increase in the amount of people qualifying for the fuel allowance.

Elsewhere, he said women can now receive free HRT, the carers’ support grant had been increased, and the Government had introduced the free hot school meals for primary pupils.

He added: “In April, we decided to extend the VAT reduction to 9 per cent on gas and electricity. This measure will save households €70 for gas and €55 for electricity.”

“So far from your assertions that Government is doing nothing, we have taken all of these measures on top of the measures that we took in Budget 2025.”

Mr Martin also said inflation in Ireland will come down to about 1.6 per cent this year, from a peak of around 10 per cent.

He said this would mean Ireland will have the third-lowest rate of inflation among the 27 EU countries.