Heated exchange over rising cost of living

A Cavan Sinn Féin councillor has launched a blistering attack on the Government’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis, urging the local authority to directly confront senior ministers over what he described as a deepening emergency for struggling families.

In a heated address, Noel Connell called on the council to formally engage with Simon Harris and Dara Calleary, warning that the situation has spiralled into a national failure to protect the most vulnerable.

Cllr Connell pointed to his earlier warnings, claiming they were dismissed at the time.

“Back in July 2025, I brought a motion on cost of living to Cavan County Council, at that time government parties here said and I quote 'they were sick listening to criticism about the cost of living'. At that time there were 300,000 people in arrears with energy bills, now a couple of months later there is nearly 360,000 in arrears with energy bills. And it was alluded to at meeting that it was wasteful management of money by families that was causing this problem.”

He rejected that narrative outright, instead laying the blame squarely at the feet of Government spending priorities.

“The true facts is the wasteful spending of public money by this government, sending millions here and there, is leaving these families living in poverty. Many individuals and families cannot heat their homes, people with disabilities sitting freezing in wheelchairs. Some people can't put meals on their tables.”

Painting a grim picture of life for many across Ireland, Cllr Connell said the scale of hardship is now impossible to ignore.

“How this government has let this get to this point where 70% of parents say they sometimes or always worry about not being able to provide for their children with daily essentials. We must listen to our young people and families who are in real distress.”

He argued that only urgent, decisive intervention can stem the crisis.

“It is clear need for immediate intervention including a cap on home heating oil and bringing in energy credits to alleviate the burden on vulnerable households.

Decisive action is essential to protect those most at risk and to ensure that basic living standards are maintained, so I am asking Cavan County Council to write to Government Ministers Simon Harris TD and Dara Calleary TD to put a system of energy credits in place for the people that need it, and a cap on home heating oil,” Cllr Connell concluded.

His motion was seconded by Independent Ireland's Shane P. O'Reilly, but Fine Gael's Trevor Smith took umbrage with what was said, calling on Cllr Connell to “take back” his statement, noting it was “unfair” of him to drag up comments made almost 12 months ago.

Cllr Connell flatly refused, and received support also from his party colleague Stiofán Conaty.