Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach's response to Deputy Martin's question on home help hours vividly reflects the fact that the Government lives in cloud cuckoo land. Those women in west Cork are not alone. Every Deputy could and perhaps should be in direct correspondence with the Taoiseach to set out the thousands of cases of older and disabled people being left in the lurch and abandoned by the Government. The Taoiseach speaks as if he does not realise that the Government has made cuts to this service. They are hurting.

Last night, President Obama was re-elected. I am sure that we all congratulate him. It may interest the Taoiseach to know that he earns an annual salary of $315,000.

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