Councillor and Dublin South-West general election candidate Ciarán Ahern spoke following the launch of Labour’s new finance policy, highlighting its commitment to tackling the cost of living crisis, which is hitting households across Ireland.
Ahern said “We’ve been knocking on doors across Dublin South-West, and hearing the same story over and over: people are struggling to keep up with rising costs. Ireland is a wealthy country, yet so many feel fleeced. Prices have skyrocketed, while wages and welfare payments have lagged behind. This government has allowed the cost of living crisis to spiral out of control, and once-off payments like those in the recent budget are simply a sticking plaster—they don’t address the long-term problem of incomes falling behind inflation.
“Workers and their families deserve more than reactive measures. Labour will make sure incomes are protected from inflation by linking tax credits and welfare payments to rising prices. It’s the only sustainable way to ensure people aren’t left behind. Ireland has the third-highest household electricity prices in the EU. This isn’t just unfair—it’s unacceptable. Labour will establish an expert review group to identify ways to bring electricity prices in line with the European average within six months.
”Labour also pledged to strengthen protections for consumers in Dublin South-West and across the country. We’re committed to protecting people from price gouging. Labour will increase funding for the Consumer Regulator and ensure it has the powers needed to crack down on bad practices. We’ll also remove penalties for paying state services in instalments, like motor tax, which unfairly punishes those without large disposable incomes. And to make justice more accessible, Labour will raise the Small Claims Court limit from €2,000 to €8,000—something that hasn’t been updated since 2006.
“We cannot continue on the current trajectory. People in Dublin South-West and across Ireland are under immense pressure just to make ends meet. Labour’s plan will deliver real change by protecting incomes, reducing living costs, and ensuring fairness for all. It’s time for a Government that prioritises people, so we can build better, together.”
