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 to introduce an emergency budget now, to provide relief for workers and families who are struggling.

“Instead, the government’s approach is to watch people fall into further debt and poverty before it is willing to act.

“Today, the government today announced a budgetary envelope of €6.7 billion – but said further one-off measures, which will be announced with the budget, will see that headline figure rise even further.

“Given the government has effectively conceded that an emergency package is needed, in tandem with the budget, why does it continue to refuse to introduce those measures now – even as senior minsters acknowledge that workers and families are under significant pressure?”

4 July, 2022

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