Caitríona Redmond: Families go backwards as Paschal Donohoe peels an orange in his pocket

Soaring energy prices and food shrinkflation are battering even the most frugal of families — and Budget 2026 has done nothing for them

'Irish Examiner' consumer columnist Caitríona Redmond says even families following her money-saving advice — such as cooking meals from scratch — are swamped by the rising cost of food and energy.

As TDs filled the lower house of the Oireachtas for the budget debate, I almost forgot what the normal vista of vacant seats in the Dáil looks like.

Instead of a swathe of brown shiny leather, there was a sea of colourful jackets and jaunty expressions; the collective knew they were being watched.