Simon Harris Rules Out Mini-Budget Despite Opposition Pressure for Cost-of-Living Relief

Dublin: Simon Harris has firmly rejected calls for a mini-budget to support workers, defending the government’s recently announced €750 million package as sufficient to address the ongoing fuel and cost-of-living pressures.

The minister was responding to demands from Ged Nash, who urged the government to introduce additional measures to provide immediate relief for wage earners. Harris reiterated that the current package—described as one of the largest in the European Union—prioritises sectors most severely affected by rising fuel costs, including transport operators and farmers.

Focus on Key Sectors

Harris emphasised that targeted support was necessary to protect critical supply chains and ensure economic stability. He noted that industries such as haulage and agriculture face disproportionately high fuel costs, justifying their prioritisation in the relief measures.

He also pointed to economic forecasts suggesting inflation could ease by approximately 0.6% over the coming months, arguing that the existing package would deliver broader benefits across the economy.

Opposition Criticism

During exchanges in the Dáil, Nash criticised the government for failing to adequately support working families. He argued that while assistance for certain sectors was delivered swiftly, ordinary workers would have to wait months for meaningful relief.

Nash called for a mini-budget that would include measures such as windfall taxes on energy companies, €400 energy credits for middle-income households, and additional support for everyday expenses, including groceries and school costs.

Rejecting these proposals, Harris maintained that further immediate fiscal intervention is not planned. He reiterated that the government would not introduce a mini-budget, stressing that existing measures are designed to balance economic support with fiscal responsibility.

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