Energy prices are due to rise by €700 this year and the price of many foods will double. But Eamon Ryan has said ‘the government cannot cover every cost.’
It is a blatant lie and we should reject excuses like ‘ we will all have to sacrifice because of the war in Ukraine’.
The price hikes began before the war and have been made worse by calls for sanctions. These hit ordinary people in Russia and here.
The government should bring in immediate price controls. Under Section 61 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007, the government can issue emergency orders in relation to the supply of electricity, gas and home heating oil. Under Section 62 of the same act, they can fix maximum price orders.
They won’t do it because they want to load the cost of their sanctions policy onto working people. We need to stand up to them.