Increases to the State pension and other social welfare payments are on the cards as part of next month's budget, the Tánaiste has confirmed. But he said we have now seen a return to inflation and Fine Gael will be pushing to ensure payments increase in line with the cost of living through measures in October's budget. "Anyone who pulls into the petrol station, anyone who goes to supermarket will tell you that the cost of living is rising again. "I think everyone in Fine Gael realises that we had a difficult summer," he told reporters afterwards. However, Mr Varadkar said the summer is "over now" and this week's gathering provides an opportunity to "regroup".

Source: Irish Examiner September 13, 2021 12:00 UTC