Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD has said that, by refusing to introduce an Emergency Budget, the government is choosing to leave struggling households in the lurch this summer.

Teachta McDonald said:

“For weeks, the Taoiseach has resisted calls to introduce an Emergency Budget with measures that will deliver breathing space that workers and families so desperately need.

“The Taoiseach expects struggling households to wait for help. There are families at breaking point today. More and more people cannot afford the basics and they hear a government saying that it has done enough. 

“The lived experience of ordinary people tells us that this simply isn’t true. So many are now just barely getting by.

“Sinn Féin’s motion tonight calls on the government to see sense and introduce an Emergency Budget before the Dáil rises for the summer recess. 

“The government is now projected to take in €5.6 billion more in tax revenue this year than had been expected on Budget Day. There is room in public finances for action. 

“Therefore, if it does not intervene, the government is making a clear choice to leave households high and dry.”