Cost Of Living Coalition calls for protest on October 7th

The Cost Of Living Coalition staged a thousands-strong protest in September 2022 at high prices, and the group are staging a new protest on October 7th.

The protest will come just before the Government announces their Budget measures for 2023 which is widely expected to contain one-off measures to alleviate the cost of living crisis that has gripped Ireland since 2021, but the group says one-off measures are not enough.

Cost Of Living Coalition Convenor Eddie Conlon said “inflation is on the rise again, and the government has failed to protect the public from an onslaught of price increases –  almost everything is going up.”

“In the last month, clothing and footwear rose by 4.2%, mortgage interest by 2.6% and home heating oil by 13%. Petrol went up 4.1% in the last month and diesel by 6.6%. This was before recent excise duty increase,” he said.

“The government has failed to control prices. The reductions to energy costs announced do not match the massive increases over the last year. Mortgage interest repayments are up by over 50%.”

“All this is in stark contrast to the below inflation increases in wages, benefits and pensions and living standards are being cut across the board,” he added, and called for “radical action” on the cost of living.

The nationwide protest will take place on October 7th, with details to be announced on the Dublin-specific protest soon.

Last year’s protest set off from Parnell Square before walking down O’Connell Street and onto Merrion Square.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald addressed the crowd at the protest last year, saying “everyone deserves a good and secure life. Today we say we will not settle for anything less.”

Groups from different political parties such as Social Democrats, Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, Labour, Workers’ Party and various trade unions were among those who took part in the protest.

A similar protest was held in late November at high housing prices, with the Raise The Roof protest drawing a similar attendance of over 10,000 people.