Holly Cairns: Government stuck in reaction mode on cost of living
Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats, told the Dail that the government is "stuck in reaction mode" and criticised its emergency-only response to the cost of living crisis. She argued for a comprehensive package including a targeted €400 energy credit, a Solar for All plan and bigger grants to protect families.
Holly Cairns accused the government of offering short-term fixes rather than a coherent cost of living strategy. She said ministers scramble to respond after crises build, leaving households exposed to soaring energy and everyday costs.
Cairns highlighted that nearly 330,000 households are behind on electricity bills and home heating oil is almost 50% more expensive than last year. Back-to-school costs, rent, mortgages, childcare and groceries are compounding pressure on families across the country.
The Social Democrats' proposals noted in the speech include a targeted €400 energy credit for low and middle income households, a major expansion of insulation and a Solar for All programme with increased grants and approval for plug-in solar to reduce bills long term.
Cairns warned that housing, health, disability and social care systems are in crisis and that patient safety concerns - including staff warnings at CUH - cannot be dismissed. She said the government can and must limit how exposed people are to global shocks after years of record surpluses.
Holly Cairns urged a move away from ministerial patchwork and towards a planned, targeted response to make life affordable and protect households from future price shocks.
Main criticism
Holly Cairns accused the government of offering short-term fixes rather than a coherent cost of living strategy. She said ministers scramble to respond after crises build, leaving households exposed to soaring energy and everyday costs.
Immediate pressures on families
Cairns highlighted that nearly 330,000 households are behind on electricity bills and home heating oil is almost 50% more expensive than last year. Back-to-school costs, rent, mortgages, childcare and groceries are compounding pressure on families across the country.
Policy alternatives proposed
The Social Democrats' proposals noted in the speech include a targeted €400 energy credit for low and middle income households, a major expansion of insulation and a Solar for All programme with increased grants and approval for plug-in solar to reduce bills long term.
Wider consequences and accountability
Cairns warned that housing, health, disability and social care systems are in crisis and that patient safety concerns - including staff warnings at CUH - cannot be dismissed. She said the government can and must limit how exposed people are to global shocks after years of record surpluses.
A call for a new approach
Holly Cairns urged a move away from ministerial patchwork and towards a planned, targeted response to make life affordable and protect households from future price shocks.
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Transcript
Ceann Comhairle, this is a government permanently stuck in reaction mode. A crisis happens, pressure builds, people protest and eventually the government scrambles to put together an emergency response. This is not a cost of living strategy, it is a desperate approach from a government with no vision and no ambition. People are under enormous pressure and that pressure has only ratcheted up over the summer. Electricity prices are soaring, nearly 330,000 households are now behind in their electricity bills. Home heating oil is nearly 50% more expensive than last year and families are facing into one of the most expensive times of the year. Back to school means uniform, shoes, devices, transport, college fees, so-called voluntary contributions and that's on top of already extortionate rent, mortgages, child care, grocery and energy bills. So yes, extending the fuel supports will help but it will not help enough. The most frustrating thing is that this government is in a position to do so much more. We could be back here today for longer than 60 minutes passing a comprehensive package of measures to make life affordable. We could introduce a targeted 400 euro energy credit for low and middle income households who need it the most and we could insulate families from these global price shocks and drive down energy costs in the long term. By introducing our solar for all plan, approving plug-in solar and dramatically increasing grants, people could permanently cut hundreds of euro from their electricity bills. These are all measures the social democrats have consistently called on this government to introduce and the government has consistently ignored them and instead is doing the bare minimum before the door goes back into recess for another two weeks. But Ciancórla, the problems facing this country are not going away. Our care and justice systems are failing children. There is tragedy on our roads. The majority of young people now believe they will never own their own home. Families all over the country are still scrambling for school and bus places for their children. The healthcare staffing crisis is spiralling out of control and the Minister for Health is dismissing patient safety concerns from staff at CUH. Ciancórla, we all know that the government can't control wars in the Middle East and it can't control international oil prices but it can control how exposed we are when these shocks happen and it absolutely can control the crises facing us in housing, in health, in disability and in social care. After years of record surpluses, there is no excuse for people to be left this vulnerable. We need a new approach.