A number of protests took place today by campaigners looking to highlight continuing cost-of-living concerns.
In Cork, around 500 protesters marched in the city centre while there were other demonstrations in Dublin and Galway.
They were organised by the Cost of Living Coalition, which is supported by political parties, trade unions and NGOs.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach has said that it is important to strike a balance in terms of cost-of-living supports offered to people, in order to avoid adding to inflation.
Speaking in Cork, Micheál Martin said the Government had made a significant intervention in Budget 2023.
Mr Martin said that over €4bn in one-off measures were allocated to households and businesses as part of the Budget at a time when many other countries are unable to provide such support.
He said that he understood the pressure that people are under.
Crowds gathered on Grand Parade #Cork for today's #CostOfLiving protest march to City Hall - one of some 23 protests taking place across the country hearing calls for an end to 'profiteering’ @rtenews pic.twitter.com/AQv7AhcUbu
— JennïeØSullivân (@OSullivanJennie) November 12, 2022
Among those to address the rally in Cork was Catriona Twomey, of Cork Penny Dinners who told protesters that the charity fed over 1,000 people today.
"Remember who you are marching for," she told the gathering "you are walking for them".
To the chant "the prices are rising, so are we", campaigners marched from Grand Parade along St Patrick's Street, to the GPO where a brief sit-down protest was made on the street before protesters resumed the march to City Hall.
Solidarity and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry said "families should not be facing cost of living hardships this Christmas in a country where the State is recording record tax receipts."
The Budget measures "did not go far enough," he added.
With additional reporting by Jennie O'Sullivan
