What is realistic and what is populist rhetoric?

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Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times 
 
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Money , dosh, euros, notes, cash, currrency
Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Stock Pic Money , dosh, euros, notes, cash, currrency

The high cost of living in Ireland is on track to become the biggest issue influencing how voters will cast their ballots in Friday’s general election.

Some 31 per cent of voters now say the cost of living crisis is the main issue they’ll focus on when voting, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll. This compares to 18 per cent of voters who chose house prices and 16 per cent who said health.

All political parties have made election pledges which they say will ease the financial pressure on squeezed families.

But, which of these promises can realistically make your life better and which are just populist rhetoric?

READ MORE

Today, on In the News, can any political party actually tackle the cost of living crisis and put money back in people’s pockets?

Irish Times economics and finance writer Cliff Taylor discusses the challenge of solving Ireland’s cost of living crisis.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast