Some of the candidates running in the Dublin Central bye-election have been participating in a special edition of RTÉ's The Week in Politics, where issues such as the cost of living were discussed.
Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan, Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats, Fine Gael's Ray McAdam and Ruth O'Dea of Labour took part.
Ms O'Dea said the Government's response to the recent fuel protests "ignored PAYE workers" - a cohort which she believed had been "left behind" in last October's Budget.
She said her party is proposing targeted energy credits for people on incomes up to 70,000 a year.
Mr Ennis called for immediate cost-of living supports, saying "extraordinary measures are needed for extraordinary times".
"People are really struggling, with childcare and the cost of living," he contended.
His party's proposals for dealing with the cost of living include a €400 targeted energy support and a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers.
Ms Boylan rejected suggestions her party's proposal for an emergency budget was premature.
"We're trying to be fair to everybody so people at least can heat their homes and put food on the tables to feed their children. It's not just a working class issue," she said.
"People need an intervention now. We can look at it again in October," she added.
However, Mr McAdam rejected criticism the Government hadn't done enough to help people with the rising cost of living.
He said the Coalition had shown the "ability and agility to respond" to the impact of the events in the Middle East as "we've prudently managed the public finances".
"Given what's happening in the Middle East and should that continue indefinitely, we'll be able to respond back".
"You cannot trust the Social Democrats or adopt the policies proposed by Sinn Fein's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty," Mr McAdam claimed.
The discussion was moderated by Sarah McInerney.
Some candidates on the campaign trail told RTÉ why they are running for the seat vacated by Paschal Donohoe in Dublin Central, and what they stand for.
Green Party Cllr Janet Horner said that having been a councillor since 2019, she has focused on city centre regeneration.
She said that nationally, there's a huge amount of work to be done regarding renewable energies, making homes warmer, and improving access to public transport to protect communities from energy crises.
People Before Profit's Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin said that he is running because there needs to be a serious challenge to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and the crew of independents propping them up.
He said that the energy sector should be re-nationalised and put under public control, and that there should be caps on energy as well as free and frequent public transport. He said that Government action has been completely inadequate for ordinary people.
Read more:
What can we learn from previous bye-election campaigns?
What you need to know about the upcoming bye-elections
Dublin Central constituency profile
Aontú candidate Ian Noel Smyth said that ordinary people are suffering and are on "the pin of their collar" with the cost-of-living crisis, on top of the fuel crisis and housing crisis.
He said that something has to change as it has been going on for far too long, and there needs to be a new approach to housing.
Fianna Fáil’s John Stephens said that he had been involved in activism from a young age and wants to deliver, and has delivered as a councillor. He said that he knows the Dublin Central area well, the people and their needs.
Independent Cllr Mannix Flynn said that with the experience he has, he brings a lot to the table. He said there was a need to "break away from the mundane monologue that the Opposition and Government are spouting onto the public" and that he wanted to represent the citizens, residents and businesses of the city and make sure they have a voice.
Independent candidate Malachy Steenson said that he was standing to change the country and "bring it to some normality" where the country is run for the benefit of its people.
He said that the main issues were housing, immigration and the cost of living, adding that diesel should be 70c a litre.
He said that the Government and Opposition have no intention of solving any of those problems.
There are four other candidates in the Dublin Central Constituency.
Gerard Hutch, who is an independent candidate, did not respond to RTÉ's efforts to contact him.
Also running are Tony Corrigan, Colm Flood, and John O'Leary, all of whom are independent candidates.
