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

As ever.

We are three weeks away from the announcement of budget 2018 which represents a real opportunity to deliver for citizens who are struggling to get by and build a life for their families but all of the signals from the Government and the Taoiseach are that they are going to pass up on this opportunity. Instead of focusing on the crises in the health service and the provision of housing, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are engaging in a sham fight over how best to introduce unaffordable and reckless tax cuts. It is the same old Fine Gael backed by the same old Fianna Fáil. We all know that the best way to give a break to those struggling to make ends meet, pay rent and keep a roof over their heads is not to give a tax break to put a few measly euro back in their pockets, a few measly euro that would do precious little to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis that is ruining so many lives. It is very clear that the best way to give low and middle income workers a break is by building decent public services. It is done by investing in the health system, delivering social and affordable homes at a level which matches the scale of the housing emergency and ensuring those with disabilities can access proper and dedicated services.

A responsible Government would reject the policies that have led to the decimation of essential services. An irresponsible Government is one that opts to make tax cuts when public services are crumbling and people are suffering. This is not just auction politics but also short-sighted and destructive politics. The Government is so deluded and out of touch that it believes this is its route to electoral success. It is about trying to buy votes. However, the people whom the Government is trying to buy off will not be bought off so cheaply. It has it wrong again. Frankly, it is incredible that tax cuts versus investment in public services is even a matter of debate. The facts on the ground, in communities and our families, should have settled that argument already. The vast majority have had their fill of auction politics. They want and demand decent public services, for which they are crying out. They want children out of hotel rooms and in homes. They want patients off trolleys and waiting lists. They want to have the opportunity to buy their own homes.

Given the limited fiscal space, will the Government make the necessary investment in public services or will it insist on tax cuts that would further decimate the State's ability to respond to these crises? It cannot do both. Choosing tax cuts over investment in public services in the budget will give the clearest evidence yet that the Taoiseach, much like his predecessor, is not serious about tackling the issues which are impacting on the lives of ordinary people.

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