Today, the ESRI warned that food prices will go up again this autumn. Ordinary families are under real pressure. They are working hard but are still struggling to pay their bills. They are getting crucified by rent, childcare and insurance. Now they read that the basics in their presses are going to go up. It will not just be them. The ESRI also said that those on fixed incomes, such as pensioners, those on disability payments and low-paid workers will be hit the hardest. It is chipping away at people's quality of life. Does the Tánaiste accept that the delays and half-measures from the Government on fuel prices have made the situation worse? What action will he take to protect working families from another cost-of-living shock and ensure that there is real accountability and transparency in supermarket pricing and profits?

I thank Deputy Clarke for raising the issue of the cost of living. I am slightly surprised she did because I was wondering cá bhfuil Mary Lou this week. I happened to see online that she is over in the United States at a Friends of Sinn Féin talk tonight. You can pay $250 at 6 p.m. to be a champion for change and she will throw in a free T-shirt-----

Is the Tánaiste following all the female TDs around or is it just Mary Lou?

Pardon me?

Is the Tánaiste tracking the movements of all the female TDs or just Mary Lou?

No, I was just wondering where the Leader of the Opposition was.

Sinn Féin is the only party raising money in America.

Can we stick to the question, please?

From their Provo supporters.

What a peculiar answer.

I was wondering where the Leader of the Opposition was this week-----

The ESRI.

----- to find out that when Sinn Féin is lecturing us in here in relation to the cost of living, it is charging $250 and throwing in a free T-shirt at a fundraiser.

Food prices, Tánaiste.

The leader of Sinn Féin should be in this House doing her job.

Supermarkets here. Fuel prices here.

That is not the purpose of the question. We will move to the next question.

The leader of Sinn Féin should be in this House instead of charging $250. This Government has a proud track record when it comes to supporting people. The package we put in place, which Sinn Féin voted against, reduced the cost of diesel and petrol and-----

Which will go up again on 1 August.

-----reduced inflation by 0.6%. We expanded the fuel allowance-----

To families who do not earn enough.

-----with the largest or second largest package in the European Union, while Mary Lou is over charging people $250 and-----

Who else's diary does the Tánaiste follow?

----- giving out free T-shirts.