Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

They conclude by saying, "Let’s hope we can fool the people for a second time around".

That is the story of this Government.

The first duty of any government in a civilised society is to provide housing for its people. This Government has clearly failed to do this. The second duty of a government is to ensure people feel safe in their homes. This Government has failed to do this. It is the duty of any government to ensure adequate health service for people who are sick or need medical procedures carried out in a timely manner. This Government has again failed to do this. The provision of affordable child care facilities for families with young children should be a priority of the Government. Again, it has failed to provide this.

These four issues of housing, people feeling safe in their homes, adequate health service and child care provisions are all matters completely within, and under, the control of this Government. Lack of action on these matters cannot be blamed on external factors, or even on Fianna Fáil. These are the issues on which it has failed and by which it will be judged by the people.

Improvements in the State’s economic fortunes are to be welcomed. The additional cash available to the Government must be put to good use by way of a socially balanced budget to rebuild our public services and to provide additional income for people through their pay packets. The improvements in the economy are as a result of the sacrifices and the hard work of the Irish people, all the Irish people. It is the people’s recovery. Unfortunately, due to choices of this Government, everybody is not feeling the recovery equally. There is a two-tier recovery. There is a social and geographic divide when it comes to sharing in the recovery.

There was a time when there was a general consensus and government actions ensured a rising tide lifted all boats. This Government has managed it in such a way, however, that only those in the fancy yachts feel the benefit of a rising tide.

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