The Cost of Living Coalition hold a protest in Nenagh

The Cost of Living Coalition Tipperary held a protest in Nenagh on Saturday. 

The group were calling on the Government to address poverty rather than putting in place temporary measures. 

Organiser Damian O’Donoghue said the measures introduced by the Government are” a plaster where surgery is required.”

He says the Government has a duty of care and is responsible for ensuring people’s basic needs can be met. 

“We wanted to come here today to highlight the struggle that people are going through in every town, it’s not just in north Tipperary or County Tipperary, and we wanted to point out what could be done and what could be done tomorrow and how the government can help to insulate the population a bit better,” said Mr O’Donoghue. 

Mr O’Donoghue was referring to several measures the group would like the Government to implement. 

Firstly, they would like the Government to introduce a windfall tax on large companies.

They want to see an increase in the state pension and wages to keep up with inflation. 

The group are also calling for the carbon tax to be scrapped and for the Government to rethink their housing strategy. 

“There is a whole generation of people who have been locked out, who have been forgotten, denied opportunities by this Government, and our demonstration says enough is enough,” said Mr O’Donoghue. 

On Saturday, they marched from the train station to Banba Square, where three representatives spoke about why they were protesting.

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Sinn  Féin TD Martin Browne was in attendance and spoke at the demonstration. 

He said while they accept the war in Ukraine has had an impact, the crisis started long before. 

“We are out to show support for communities that are really struggling and have struggled for the last 12 months with the prices for everything rising,” said Mr Browne. 

Also speaking at the event was Michael Lang from the Cost of Living Coalition in Thurles. 

He said he was proud to see many people demonstrating on the day. 

He said many of the issues stem from the 2008 crash and subsequent austerity policies.  

“Of course, there are global factors, but there was a cost of living crisis here long before the pandemic, long before the war in Ukraine, and the reason we are not insulated is because of the manner in which we adjusted our fiscal policy during the financial crisis,” said Mr Lang. 

He called on everyone to get involved in groups and unions to fight for change. 

The Cost of Living Coalition is holding a national protest in Dublin on November 26.