Cost of Living Mini-Budget: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-07
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Robert Troy (FF), Longford-Westmeath

It is jammy when things are going right and when things are going wrong, it is the fault of the Government. That is a very simplistic approach.
lf the economy remains strong, we will stand by the programme for Government commitment to make progressive changes to personal income tax rates. We have full employment. I suppose that is jammy and good luck too. From my perspective, as a Minister of State in the Department of Finance, this budget should be about rewarding work. In budget 2026, it was about supporting jobs, record investment in housing and record investment in disabilities. We must ensure that budget 2027 is about supporting those who are working and there are significant tax measures to support them.
I remind the Opposition, the Labour Party in particular, that the programme for Government is a five-year programme. We have delivered one budget in that timeframe, yet the Deputies seem somewhat disappointed that every measure has not been introduced in year one at a time of huge global uncertainty. It is not about political gameplaying. Preparation for budget 2027 is already well under way. Next month, the Government will host the national economic dialogue. We will be listening to stakeholders from across society and discussing the necessary reforms and priorities for the upcoming budget, all with a view to shaping a secure future. The Government has shown that we are not afraid to act swiftly and forcefully when required, but we have always been clear that the best way to debate and manage fiscal policy is in the context of the annual budget cycle, rather than through multiple fiscal events a year.
It is also worth stepping pack for a moment and looking at the broader economic context.
The Irish economy has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Our unemployment rate has remained below 5%, a level consistent with full employment, for almost four years now. This strength reflects the resilience of our economy and enterprise base. We cannot take this economic resilience for granted. In the current environment, risks remain firmly tilted to the downside and the outlook continues to be shaped by developments beyond our control. Inflation now stands at 3.6% for April. Four years ago, in 2022, that rate was over 8%. While still lower than at the peak of the energy shock in 2022, Irish electricity prices are high compared to those of our European neighbours. We are responding to that previous shock and the one we are feeling now. It is important to acknowledge that Ireland's exposure to this energy price shock is, in part, a consequence of our reliance on imported fossil fuels. Reducing that reliance is imperative. We are making significant investments in renewable energy and grid infrastructure and rolling out supports to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and workplaces.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-07/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:46+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-07