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Immediate threat to living standards and long-term challenges must be met Protecting the most vulnerable from the cost-of-living crisis is the key priority in the Social Democrats’ alternative budget, published today. The party’s alternative budget document, ‘Responding to the Crisis: A Social Democratic Approach’, aims to strike a balance between dealing with the immediate threat […]

It is not that long ago that the Irish public bailed out the banks, to the tune of €60 billion The decision by AIB to remove cash services from 70 branches around the country will disproportionately negatively impact people in rural Ireland and elderly people, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The decision […]

The government’s approach is to watch people fall into further debt and poverty before it is willing to act  The Summer Economic Statement shows the government can act and introduce an emergency budget now, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The summer economic statement has again confirmed that the government has the capacity […]

The cost-of-living crisis is now an emergency, but the government is callously refusing to act. It is essential that the government introduces an emergency budget given inflation is now running at nearly 10pc, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “Inflation is now running at nearly 10pc. Price increases are becoming embedded across the […]

What does it say about this government when the Tories have a more generous approach to the living wage than it does? The government has abandoned its commitment to introduce a living wage that people can actually live on, according to Social Democrats co-leader and Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “When this government came to power, […]

The question for the government now is clear: when, not if, it will act? The cost of living crisis has vaporised household budgets, according to Social Democrats co-leader and Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “This month’s consumer price index makes grim reading. Prices in the past month have increased by nearly 7pc – the fastest rate […]

A cursory examination of the figures reveals the inequity at the core of this plan The government’s excuses for failing to target their cost-of-living measures at low and middle income earners do not stand up to scrutiny, according to Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall. “A cursory examination of the figures reveals the inequity at the […]

Tinkering around the edges will do little to help those struggling to survive in the long-term The government’s response to the cost-of-living crisis is not sufficiently targeted at those who need help the most, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “The vast bulk of the funding announced today is for a blanket €200 electricity […]

The government has yet to provide a single targeted relief to people who are struggling to survive Patronising comments by Junior Minister Seán Fleming on the cost-of-living crisis are indicative of a government that is out of touch and lacking in empathy, according to Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy. “Advice from Junior Minister Seán Fleming, […]

Instead of a myopic focus on deficit reduction, the government must focus on deficits in infrastructure The EU Fiscal rules are an anachronistic relic from an austerity era and must be reformed if Ireland’s economy is to rebound as we emerge from the pandemic, according to Social Democrats Finance Spokesperson Róisín Shortall. “The Summer Economic […]