{"id":25722,"date":"2022-04-03T11:14:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T15:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25722"},"modified":"2022-04-05T10:17:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T14:17:05","slug":"mcdonald-calls-for-emergency-budget-to-alleviate-cost-of-living-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25722","title":{"rendered":"McDonald Calls For Emergency Budget To Alleviate Cost-Of-Living Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mary Lou McDonald has called for an additional $1.54 billion of support for people struggling with surging bills (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Government should produce an emergency budget to release further support for people struggling amid the cost-of-living crisis, Mary Lou McDonald has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sinn F\u00e9in president said speed is of the essence when it comes to rolling out additional mitigations for families now living in a \u201cpermanent state of panic\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Friday, T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar said the Government was examining what else could be done to \u201csoften the blow\u201d of surging costs, adding \u201ca lot of things are in the mix\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Varadkar ruled out extra borrowing to fund new measures and highlighted that any steps have to comply with EU law, for instance in areas such as VAT relief on fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government says it has already allocated $2.2 billion (\u20ac2 billion) since October\u2019s budget to alleviate cost-of-living pressures. Measures have included a cut on fuel excise duty, the reduction of public transport costs and rebates on household energy bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said her party proposes a further $1.54 billion (\u20ac1.4 billion) in support measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She insisted the money could be found without recourse to additional borrowing, claiming there is sufficient \u201celbow room\u201d in the state\u2019s finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked in an interview with RT\u00c9 Radio One whether there is a need for an emergency budget, Ms McDonald said there is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scale of this crisis in households right across the land is really, really worrying,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think there are so many families now that are just getting by and that live in what I would describe as a permanent state of panic as the bills land on the mat and a fear of anything going wrong in their household, anything further going wrong in their household finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Government can\u2019t be a spectator in that, they need to intervene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCertainly they can do more, they must do more, and I am hopeful that they will see the good sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFamilies and households that are struggling just to get by don\u2019t have the luxury of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpeed is of the essence and the Government needs to be a lot more agile and a lot quicker in its response.\u201d<\/p>\n

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