People Before Profit has suggested that the Government should open supermarkets to sell food at discounted prices.

The party wants to see five such supermarkets opened to tackle food poverty.

The supermarkets should be located in areas with the highest levels of need, Dublin city councillor Conor Reddy said on national radio.

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The initiative would mirror a pilot scheme being launched in New York City by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, where five stores will sell food at prices 30% below standard retail prices.

Reddy said the scheme could be funded by taxing the profits of the large retail multiples.

“I think everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable produce,” he said. “No one in this country at the moment is really having a good time and prices have increased massively since 2022.”

IFA farm business chair Bill O’Keeffe expressed concern that the cost of such an initiative would be passed back by the retailers to primary producers. “Drystock farmers will earn less than the national minimum wage this year,” he said.

Acknowledging recent food inflation, O’Keeffe highlighted that farm gate prices have fallen sharply over the last 12 months.

“If we were to adopt an American initiative, perhaps food stamps would be a better system, making quality food affordable without undermining farm incomes, which are very modest. The Agri-Food Regulator should investigate retail profits, so that farmers get their fair share of the retail price,” he added.