Junior Minister Seán Fleming has apologised for saying people should “shop around” instead of "just complaining" about the soaring cost of living.
Speaking to RTÉ yesterday evening, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance said people could save a lot of money if they made the effort.
“Rather than just complaining and [saying] 'what's the Government going to do for me?', you can actually have a serious impact on your own finance,” he said. “But that involves people having to do some work themselves.”
He said his own net salary is around €1,000 a week – but insisted his advice was relevant to people of all incomes.
This really is something else, and from a Junior Minister for Finance too.
Energy and fuel bills up by over 30% & his solution is… stop “complaining” and shop around!?🤷♂️
At this rate, there’ll be a lot of FF voters shopping around for better value at the next election. https://t.co/kVtYmLDGbk
— Ged Nash TD (@geraldnash) February 7, 2022
In a statement overnight, he apologised and said it was not his intension to imply that people shouldn't complain about the cost of living.
“I was urging people to also shop around for best value, in addition to the measures being taken by the Government,” he said.
“The Government and Fianna Fáil take the issues around the cost of living very seriously. We are taking action to help ease the cost-of-living pressures many are currently facing.”
Last night, the Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the comments as “out of touch, indifferent and tone deaf”.
Meanwhile, the party’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty described them as “insulting and out of touch”.
Minister Fleming has had months to respond to the cost of living crisis facing workers & families. His advice that households should "stop complaining" & "do some work themselves" is insulting & out of touch. Is that the best this Government can come up with? @drivetimerte
— Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) February 7, 2022
Coalition leaders met last night to discuss further ways of addressing the rising cost of living – with the price of energy, food and a range of other costs continuing to increase.
The rate of inflation in December rose to 5.5% - the highest level since 2001.
Cabinet is expected to sign off on a range of measures including an increase to the planned €100 energy rebate and an extension of the fuel allowance.
Ministers are also due to sign off on the new National Retrofit scheme today.
