Paul Murphy demands emergency payments as inflation bites
Paul Murphy criticised the Government's handling of the cost-of-living crisis, saying inflation remains high and ordinary people are being left to struggle. He demanded emergency cost-of-living payments before Christmas and condemned the Government for voting down a bill to retrofit private rented properties.
Paul Murphy said inflation is at its highest in two years, citing over 4% food price inflation and 3.3% energy price inflation. He rejected claims that inflation had returned to normal and warned economists expect the pressure to last about six months.
Paul Murphy highlighted a sharp rise in home heating costs, saying the price of 1,000 litres of home heating oil rose by €80 in the last month and that nearly a million households are affected. He warned the increases will make it "a cold, hard Christmas for a lot of people."
Paul Murphy criticised the Government for voting down a retrofit bill for private rented properties, saying this condemns hundreds of thousands to drafty homes and higher energy costs. He warned headline inflation figures do not include housing costs and pointed to planned rent increases of up to 50% for some Dublin City Council and HAP tenants from April, with the measure to be rolled out across the country.
Paul Murphy argued the Budget worsened conditions for disabled people and carers, saying it removed upwards of €1,000 from their pockets in nominal terms. He reported calls for an emergency payment before Christmas and said carers and tenants are preparing protests, including demonstrations outside the Dáil and ongoing tenant protests over rent hikes.
Inflation and cost pressures
Paul Murphy said inflation is at its highest in two years, citing over 4% food price inflation and 3.3% energy price inflation. He rejected claims that inflation had returned to normal and warned economists expect the pressure to last about six months.
Energy and heating costs
Paul Murphy highlighted a sharp rise in home heating costs, saying the price of 1,000 litres of home heating oil rose by €80 in the last month and that nearly a million households are affected. He warned the increases will make it "a cold, hard Christmas for a lot of people."
Housing and rent increases
Paul Murphy criticised the Government for voting down a retrofit bill for private rented properties, saying this condemns hundreds of thousands to drafty homes and higher energy costs. He warned headline inflation figures do not include housing costs and pointed to planned rent increases of up to 50% for some Dublin City Council and HAP tenants from April, with the measure to be rolled out across the country.
Disabled people, carers and public action
Paul Murphy argued the Budget worsened conditions for disabled people and carers, saying it removed upwards of €1,000 from their pockets in nominal terms. He reported calls for an emergency payment before Christmas and said carers and tenants are preparing protests, including demonstrations outside the Dáil and ongoing tenant protests over rent hikes.
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Transcript
Back at the time of the last Budget, the then Minister for Finance, Pascal Donoghue, claimed that there was no need for cost of living payments in the Budget because, quote, inflation has now returned to normal rates. He said inflation would be around 2% this year. What a load of rubbish. Gaslighting people that the cost of living is actually becoming more affordable when the dogs on the street know that it isn't. He has now swanned off to Washington. He's going to be on 600,000 a year and he's not bothered. But ordinary people are left with the highest inflation in two years. Over 4% food price inflation, 3.3% energy price inflation. It will be a cold, hard Christmas for a lot of people. Economists are saying this will last for six months. The cost of 1,000 litres of home heating oil has shot up by €80 in the last month alone, affecting nearly a million households. But last week, the Government voted down our People Before Profit bill to retrofit private rented properties, condemning hundreds of thousands of households to drafty homes, higher energy costs and high carbon emissions long into the future. The headline, inflation figures don't even account for housing costs. They are going up too, dramatically in some cases. If you are a Dublin City Council tenant or a HAP tenant, you are facing rent increases of up to 50% from April. The plan is to roll this out across the country. The Government knows that too, but they don't care. After housing costs, 57% of HAP tenants and 43% of local authority tenants are already living below the poverty line, so a third of private renters. Tenants are already protesting the rent hikes, and they will show the political establishment what they think of them in next year's by-elections. Disabled people and carers are fighting back too. The Budget took upwards of €1,000 out of their pockets in nominal terms, worse than real terms, and they simply cannot afford it. They are calling for an emergency cost of living payment before Christmas so they can put food on the table and keep the heat and the lighting on. They will be protesting outside the Dáil next Tuesday to demand their rights. level 100%. Carers and payroll mentioned Power Station in Crimson Flight. Clear Thursday. Kリ's. For about 15 seconds to burn on搬s. Kí». Kí'. Boa table mayonnaise. Kè. ほo. Kí'. B puedo��ign. Be person. Kí'. Kí'. Kí'í'. Kí.