McDonald accuses Taoiseach of 'now talking a big game' ahead of elections

In response, Simon Harris said Sinn Féin's alternative budget had pledged less in funding aimed at alleviating child poverty than the Government delivered

At Leaders' Questions on Wednesday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said excise rises planned for August and October would "make a hard situation harder" for families, particularly those in rural areas. Picture: Maxwells

The Government has been accused of "big talk on the eve of an election" on the issue of the cost of living.

At Leaders' Questions on Wednesday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said excise rises planned for August and October would "make a hard situation harder" for families, particularly those in rural areas.

Ms McDonald said that the Government had failed to tackle child poverty, but is now "talking a big game" because of next week's elections.

"For many [workers], the cost of living has never been higher and getting by has never been more difficult than under this Government. People are paying hand over fist for sky-high energy bills, housing costs, food, insurance — everything — while big, super-rich companies make record profits and the Government stands idly by, allowing rip-offs to happen. 

"People who work very hard to provide for their families are being squeezed every single day. Having failed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, the Taoiseach is now talking a big game nine days out from an election."

Ms McDonald referenced a Barnardo's report on the cost of living published on Wednesday which found:

• Almost half of parents (47%) said they and their children had gone without or cut down on one or more of heat, electricity, medical and food over the past six months
• 81% said cost-of-living issues had negatively affected their children over the past six months
• 26% said they are always worried about being able to provide their children with daily essentials
• 47% said they had had to cut back on social activities for themselves and their children

She said Irish families are "going without" and the end to excise cuts would make this worse.

"If the Taoiseach is genuinely concerned about struggling families, why would he make them struggle more? He must know that raising the cost of petrol and diesel again and again will hurt these families, so he should not do it. 

"If he is serious about tackling the cost of living, he should start by scrapping plans to hike the price of petrol and diesel in August and October."

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In response, Mr Harris said Sinn Féin's alternative budget had sought only to extend the excise cuts until April and said Ms McDonald's party had pledged less in funding aimed at alleviating child poverty than the Government delivered.

"The consistent poverty rate for children is now lower than it has been at any other time since measurements began in 2004. Similarly, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for children is now lower than at any other time since we started measuring it in 2004. 

"The data also shows the positive impact on child poverty rates of the cost-of-living measures taken by the previous government."

The Taoiseach said that the reversal of the cuts to excise were "kept under review" and accused Sinn Féin of "trying to cod people" on the issue.

"While the Government keeps future rises under review, including the August one, the Sinn Féin alternative budget proposed restoring all of the carbon tax by April. Stop trying to cod people. The people are not thick. They can see through this single gear Sinn Féin has, which is to sow outrage, shout and roar, go rah rah rah and stick a video up on Twitter."

"When push came to shove, at decision point, and Sinn Féin had to present its alternative budget to this House, it said to extend the reduced rate of excise duty for petrol and diesel to April, not August."