Working families need real cost-of-living relief now – Bacik

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on Government to urgently introduce a coherent mini-budget to support struggling households. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Bacik said families across Ireland are facing sustained pressure from rising energy, housing and grocery costs, and warned that Government’s current approach of piecemeal, reactive measures is failing to deliver meaningful relief. She urged Government to bring forward a transparent and targeted package of supports that prioritises working people.

Deputy Bacik said:
“Families are struggling under relentless pressure as the cost of living continues to rise, with electricity and gas arrears at record levels and everyday essentials becoming harder to afford. At the very same time, we see multinational energy companies reporting soaring profits, with BP’s profits more than doubling in the first quarter of the year as global oil prices surged following the escalation of the Iran war. This contrast could not be starker for households trying to keep the lights on and put food on the table.

“This Government has withdrawn essential supports, including energy credits, without putting any meaningful cushion in place. It has failed to index tax bands, leaving PAYE workers to shoulder an increasing burden, while prioritising measures like VAT cuts without clear evidence of benefit to consumers. What we are now seeing is a series of ad hoc proposals – retrofit tweaks here, once-off measures there – but no coherent plan to address what is a deepening and structural cost-of-living crisis.

“The Taoiseach’s response in the Dáil today was deeply disappointing, as he failed to grasp what the issue actually is. People are not looking for sporadic or piecemeal interventions. They need certainty, clarity, and sustained support. Instead, this Government is continuing to hedge its bets, announcing measures in fragments, creating uncertainty for households and businesses alike.

“This lack of strategic direction is not just ineffective — it is a poor use of public money. Rolling out continuous economic measures without a clear framework undermines fiscal responsibility and leaves those most in need without adequate support. At the same time, the Government has been willing to allocate hundreds of millions in sectoral supports, while ordinary working people are told to tighten their belts.

“Labour has set out a clear alternative. Under existing tax and fiscal frameworks, Government has the capacity to introduce targeted measures that would make a real difference. These include a windfall tax on excess energy profits, targeted energy credits for working households, and the indexation of income tax bands to protect PAYE workers from inflation. We also need to accelerate investment in renewable energy to reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets. In addition, expanding remote working would cost the State nothing and should be strongly considered as a practical way to reduce costs for workers.

“What is required now is a coherent, transparent mini-budget that brings these measures together in a structured way, rather than the current piecemeal approach. Labour is calling on Government to introduce such a package without delay, to provide meaningful relief to households under pressure. Working families deserve better. Government must act now.”