Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. The Tánaiste, as everyone else, understands the nature of politics. Motions of confidence are put down and the Government will praise her. The Government will vote in favour of the motion and the Opposition will outline all of the Tánaiste's flaws and failings and we will vote against the motion. That is sometimes part of the theatre that goes on in here. However, underneath the theatre there are genuine reasons Opposition Members have no confidence not only in the Tánaiste but also in this Government. We see these reasons, as I am sure Government party members see them every day in their work in their constituencies.

The Tánaiste can argue all she likes that a recovery is under way but the reality is that the recovery is a two-tier one. I am sure if she goes into her constituency - I say the same to the Minister of State in the Department, Deputy Kevin Humphreys - they will see the two-tier recovery. They will see those who are benefitting and those who are worse off than they were five years ago.

I find it hard to stomach some of the Fianna Fáil rhetoric, even from the previous speaker, Deputy Sean Fleming, about public appointments, when in the dying days of the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government in December 2010, 90 appointments were made to State boards, including the Pensions Authority. Fianna Fáil introduced a Bill to implement statutory recommendations rather than the guidelines that were introduced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, yet the party did nothing when it was in government. I take everything Fianna Fáil says on these issues with a pinch of salt.

The reality is that the Tánaiste, as the deputy Head of Government, and as the leader of the Labour Party, must bear responsibility for what is happening in society. There is huge suffering. We have touched on homelessness.

We have touched on issues that affect terminally ill children and those with medical cards, as well as involve cuts for carers, in child benefit and the death grant. These are all choices the Government has made and which the Tánaiste has stood over. Many of the cuts were made by her Department, including those to the back-to-school clothing allowance.

Before I came into the Chamber I spoke to an individual who said I could read his e-mail, but I will not name him. His case is an example of what I have outlined. He is living in Cork and was in private rented accommodation. He has a partner and two children, both of whom are under the age of four years. Unfortunately, they have been living in a hotel for the past four months. Following the announcement of the impending legislation their then landlord put up their rent. Following advice, they sought help from the Department, the local welfare officer and Threshold, but, unfortunately, they could not continue to rent the property. They have been on the local authority housing list for five years and ended up becoming homeless. They were in such desperation, living in a hotel room, that on 28 December the young man in question tried to take his own life. Thankfully, he was found in time by his father-in-law who had to kick in the bathroom door. Because he was unconscious paramedics were called who said he was probably two to three minutes away from death. Thankfully, he has come out of that situation with a real determination to get his life back on track. However, he is not getting any help. He has been to the local authorities and the local welfare officer, but under the existing guidelines and the limits in place, he cannot find a property to rent in Cork city . That is the reality.

Until the Government recognises that housing is a huge issue, those who must continue to live in hotels will, unfortunately in some cases, see no way out and no light at the end of the tunnel. People are losing their lives which, sadly, is a legacy of the Government. Members of the Government parties can talk about the improvements made, but they must also recognise that the Government got things wrong. I do not take issue with anyone who puts up his or her hands and says, “I got it wrong.” I will finish on this point. In fairness to the then Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, when he tried to cut funding for DEIS, he put up his hands and said, “I got it wrong. I am going to reverse it.” There have been too many arrogant Labour Party Ministers, including, in particular, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly. There is no love lost between us. Unfortunately, he will not put up his hands and say, for example, to the individual about whom I have just spoken, “I got this wrong. We are going to reverse it and to try to find some credible solutions.".

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