Cost of essential food items continues to rise as Govt fail to tackle cost of living crisis
Cost of essential food items continues to rise as Govt fail to tackle cost of living crisis - The Labour Party
Labour’s social protection spokesperson Mark Wall TD has expressed his concern at the latest report from the CSO on food inflation.
As the cost of everyday essentials has increased by almost 3% in a year, Deputy Wall said many families are facing into a difficult Christmas period with no support from this Government.
Deputy Wall said:
“Budget 2026 was a slap in the face to the many hard pressed working families across the country. We know that over 300,000 people are in energy arrears, and today we learn from the CSO that the cost of every day groceries like milk, cheese and butter are 3% more expensive than this time last year.
“The Labour Party has raised the cost of living crisis with this Government time and time again. But they have no solutions, and offer little in the way of an acknowledgment of how hard it has become for people to just get by.
“Just last month The Irish Times reported that ordinary festive staples will cost 20% more this Christmas than last. It’s going to be another winter of hardship for households who are at breaking point.
“This Government is failing working people by refusing to take on the corporate greed that is driving many of these price hikes. There are two immediate actions that could make a real difference. First, adopt Labour’s Excessive Prices Bill, which would force supermarket giants to publish their profits and bring transparency to pricing. Second, to direct the new Agrifood Regulator to investigate how big corporates are driving up prices while their share values climb.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can’t continue to bury their heads in the sand on the real cost of living crisis that is facing too many people in the country. We need to get a better understanding of why prices for the basics in Ireland have remained high for so long; why they are not coming down and why there is only moderate competition with no new, major entrants in 25 years.”