‘Families in Meath are in crisis’ says Cllr seeking price controls

A CALL on the Government to examine the feasibility of price controls for basic goods has been made by Clr Elaine McGinty who said: “Families in Co Meath and across Ireland are in crisis."

She reiterated the Labour Party's call on the Taoiseach and the government to request a review of grocery price hikes by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

“The CSO Consumer Price index for March, published just under two weeks ago, confirmed that prices grew by 7.7 per cent in that month. We have passed another depressing milestone as last month marked the eighteenth consecutive month to see an increase of five per cent or more.

“We keep hearing that inflation should now start to moderate as rampant energy prices subside, but what is really hitting people where it hurts is soaring prices for basic essentials.

“In the past year, food prices have sky-rocketed by more than 13 per cent. For the first time since 2013, living standards across Meath are falling, rather than rising. Family incomes simply can’t keep pace with spiralling everyday costs.

“Lower and modest income households in Meath are at the sharpest end of the price gouging that is now taking place.

“The European Central Bank has finally admitted what we have all known for some time: rising profits by big businesses – who keep prices high and wages low – account for half of all inflation pressures.

“Households in Co Meath are struggling to cover the costs of basic cupboard staples. Meanwhile, corporations, like supermarkets, are reaping hyper-normal profits."

“Some relief comes in the form of loyalty rewards, but only to certain customers and for certain products. This ‘let them eat cake’ attitude from Big Business is immoral, and has been accompanied by a cavalier silence from our Government.

“We need to see transparency in pricing and an acknowledgement from the Government that something has to give. Exceptional times demand exceptional measures to protect the living standards of working people in Co Meath."

Cllr McGinty said Labour’s finance spokesperson Ged Nash raised this during Leaders’ Questions, reiterating Labour’s call on the Taoiseach to commission an investigation by the CCPC into potential price gouging in the food market, and to examine the potential need for price controls on basic goods.