SINN Féin TD for Kerry, Pa Daly, has demanded urgency from the government to tackle sky-high food and grocery bills.

Deputy Daly accused Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party of being out of touch with workers and families struggling with the escalating cost of living ahead of a vote on Sinn Féin’s motion on this issue, brought forward by party spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Louise O’Reilly.

“The burden that the escalating cost of living is placing on workers and families is completely unsustainable,” said Deputy Daly.

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“A constituent recently contacted me in relation to an electricity bill for €518.34. His last bill was €425.69, albeit he paid €200 less than that due to the credit all house holders received. How is a family supposed to pay bills like these?”

“This pressure has been exacerbated by their government’s failure to intervene to reduce energy bills or provide mortgage relief from ever-rising interest rates.

“Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party are completely out of touch with the cost-of-living strain being placed on households.

“Inflation in Irish supermarkets is at the highest level ever recorded by retail analysts Kantar across the past 12 months, with the 12-week period to April 16th alone showing the rate of food inflation at 16.6%.

“This week, Sinn Féin is calling on government to do all in its power to ensure savings made by supermarkets and large food retailers are passed on to consumers through lower grocery prices.

“In addition, we are calling on government to amend the Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Bill 2022 to give the proposed Agri-Food Regulator powers to investigate anti-competitive practices in the agri-food supply chain,” he added.