Govt must protect low-income families from inflation - Siptu

Siptu has declared that the Government has a clear responsibility to protect low income families in the wake of the rise in the cost of living.

CSO figures released today showed that inflation hit 4.8% last month.

Rising food, fuel and health-care costs are behind February's increase.

Over the past year, food prices have risen by 6% while health costs went up by 8.5%.

Siptu said that low-income families are being hit the hardest.

The union's general secretary Joe O'Flynn said the union will do its best to ensure the vulnerable are protected in upcoming national wage talks.