Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Of course the scandalous abuse of charities should be outed, but it should not hide the scandal whereby people with disabilities and vulnerable people should not have to depend on the charity of whoever happens to be able to throw some money in a bucket. I note that the Taoiseach did not comment on the return – it never really went away – of crony capitalism, with companies that have made a fortune from the taxpayer, for example, advising the Government on the privatisation of public assets, which is a reactionary course to take, and advising local authorities on the white elephant of the incinerator in Ringsend, all back in the mix. They are allowed to rip off the taxpayer and provided for by the Administration to a scandalous degree.

The other issue the Taoiseach raised related to the Irish League of Credit Unions. Its survey did state that since 2012 there had been a pretty modest pick-up in the disposable income of individuals and families at the end of the month. The Taoiseach was quick to jump on that. What he did not go on to say is that, for example, the property tax, which the Government is demanding this year from low- and middle-income working people around the country, will negate that. Whatever little pick-up there was will be gone.

Did the Taoiseach notice that it said 40% of households had had to sacrifice on clothing, footwear and groceries to pay his property tax to, in turn, pay off the bondholders, the bankers and the golden circles in the European financial markets? Is that something to be proud of? Is that what he promised three years ago?

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