The Taoiseach is very much aware that since the last budget, the cost of living and inflation have risen dramatically. I know there was a recent meeting involving all party leaders and we are now looking at the squeezed middle. I know the Government wants to do everything possible to address this ever more urgent matter. It is affecting a large number of families.

I have three requests for the Taoiseach and his Ministers to consider. I ask that the electricity rebate be increased from the current proposal on the table. I ask that the fuel allowance period be extended. I also ask that the social protection payments due to come into effect in June be brought forward to the spring.

As I said yesterday, I will not get into the specifics of the package of measures that the Government is considering now but I appreciate the Deputy raising these matters. As I said yesterday, the idea is to do what we can to alleviate the pressures families are experiencing now because of the increased cost of living and the inflation being generated internationally across the globe. It is an international phenomenon for a number of reasons, including soaring oil and gas prices and congested supply chain logistics. Supply is not meeting demand as we reopen from Covid-19. Putting all these factors together, it leads to a very significant cycle of inflation. We will bring forward a package of measures to try to help people.