A protest took place in Cork this afternoon, with hundreds of attendees calling on the government to tackle the cost of living.

The event, which was organised by the Cost of Living Campaign, had members of the public chanting slogans like "the cost of living is rising, and so are we".

Attendees are calling for a cap on energy prices and rents, as well as the introduction of price controls on food.

A pay increase for workers is also needed, they say.

Crisis after crisis

Protestor David Larkin told Red FM why he travelled from Dublin to take part today.

"Too many people are suffering in Ireland today with the col we got a housing crisis, a homeless crisis and a hospital crisis", he said.

"At this present moment we've 900,000 people on a hospital waiting list."

The pre-Budget demonstration was attended by political figures also.

Cork North-Central People Before Profit TD Mick Barry told Red FM that people are struggling to meet costs.

"We think the cost of our rent needs to be cut and frozen, and we think there needs to be real pay increases for workers, which means not cutting the minimum wage, which the government intend to do."

Government intervention

Deputy Barry believes that the government is not doing enough about the "massive profiteering" of energy companies and other industries.

"We're saying that there must be price controls on electricity and gas, price controls on food."

"Ordinary people are being hammered by this cost of living crisis."

"People are choosing between heating or eating this winter", he said.

The Cost of Living Campaign is a "grassroots campaign to fight back against the cost of living crisis".