Aontú candidate slams Government inaction on cost of living crisis
Aubrey Claffey says inaction has implications for households and businesses
Aontú candidate for the Birr Municipal District, Aubrey Claffey has slammed the government's inaction on the cost of living crisis and the implications for households and businesses
Mr Claffey said: “It is no secret to those of us on the ground that people are still struggling to make ends meet despite the distractions from Ministers.
“In business, the costs of goods and services are 46% higher here than they are elsewhere in the EU. That is really hurting small businesses as they are consuming many of these things, such as energy.
“We have seen the number of insolvencies increase significantly over the last while. PwC has stated the rate of insolvency is two and a half times higher in the hospitality sector than it is throughout the rest of enterprise,” said Mr Claffey.
“The Government should differentiate those sectors within hospitality and reduce the VAT rate for restaurants, cafés and pubs to 9%. That would make an enormous difference to the viability of these businesses. It would mean that some of them could function into the future.
“Families continue to face higher consumer costs for necessities like food and essential services such as childcare with individual debt growing as people try and bridge the gap between their income and basic needs.
“This Government has been distracted with virtue signalling and pushing PR campaigns and as a result have forgotten people in the Birr Municipal District and other communities across the country.
“I am committed, as are Aontú, to developing and sustaining an economy that caters for families and small businesses, promoting growth but protecting those most in need.” said Mr Claffey.