{"id":25674,"date":"2022-04-01T11:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T15:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25674"},"modified":"2022-04-03T10:29:46","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T14:29:46","slug":"government-considering-a-number-of-measures-to-tackle-rising-cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25674","title":{"rendered":"Government Considering A Number Of Measures To Tackle Rising Cost Of Living"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Leo Varadkar flagged concerns about potential diesel shortages and a doubling of energy prices (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are a \u201clot of things in the mix\u201d as the Government plans further measures to tackle the cost of living, Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The T\u00e1naiste flagged concerns about potential diesel shortages and a doubling of energy prices, but said it was unlikely the Republic of Ireland would need to introduce energy rationing in response to the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar, who was speaking at the opening of new habitats at Dublin Zoo, is the latest Government figure to indicate that a fresh package of measures will be introduced to protect households bearing the brunt of rising inflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was his first public event since emerging from isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday, Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan said the Government has plans to bring in more measures to try to ease the costs to households.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Green Party leader said the Government is considering using mandatory time-of-day-pricing for electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar on Friday said that he did not want to add to speculation, but ruled out using borrowed money to fund any new measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it is important to acknowledge the very serious effect high energy prices are having on households. A lot of people struggling to pay the bills. And also on businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe global price of gas has increased fourfold. That of course has an impact too on the price of electricity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are not going to see prices increase by fourfold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut they will increase a lot. If you take from trough to peak, we might see gas and energy prices as much as double.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd no Government unfortunately can fully compensate people and businesses for that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he said the Government is \u201cexamining what else we can do to soften the blow\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of things are in the mix and a lot of what we can and can\u2019t do will be determined by budgetary position for a start, because we don\u2019t want to use borrowed money to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd secondly, what we could do under European law.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He rejected the suggestion that the need to bring forward further measures was confirmation that the support already in place has failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opposition parties have repeatedly called the Government actions so far on inflation, which included a cut to excise duty on fuel, inadequate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar said that it was a \u201cdynamic situation\u201d and that the Government had to respond to an \u201cevolving situation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment also said he was optimistic that Ireland could avoid going into recession as a result of the crisis in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is our objective to make sure we are one of the few countries in the world that will avoid going into recession due to the energy and Ukraine crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe did manage to avoid going into recession during the pandemic, unlike almost any country in the world. I am determined, as is (Finance) Minister (Paschal) Donohoe and the Taoiseach, that we avoid going into recession as a consequence of the current crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is possible, but it does mean doubling down on all the things that make Ireland successful economically.\u201d<\/p>\n

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