Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the past couple of weeks, I have had a number of conversations with people in my constituency. On Tuesday, I spoke to one of the school secretaries who have a problem with their two-tier system. She has been working in a school for more than 29 years, but she will have no pension. She is laid off at the end of June every year. When the pandemic struck, however, who was expected to roll up her sleeves and help out as a front-line worker? There is nothing in this budget for her.

Last Friday, I spoke to a fisherman in Dingle who had a small, family-run business and whose income was being squeezed. He is dependent on crab, lobster and crayfish, but the prices for those have dropped. Following a recent High Court ruling, larger boats are now free to sweep up inside the six-mile limit. Herring and mackerel are no longer available to them. There is nothing for that fisherman in this budget except an increase in the price of diesel. The absence of a stand-alone Minister in this Government has failed the small fisherman once again.

I spoke to a woman in Killorglin whose son used to attend a day care centre for five days per week. His time has been reduced to three hours three days per week. His mother, who is a nurse in a nursing home, is now thinking about quitting her job. There are some good elements in this budget. Perhaps there will be something for her. We will wait and see.

With a budget of €70.75 billion, I thought to myself that the Government could surely not fail to deliver for everyone. In a time of crisis, this was a chance for transformative change so that we could build a real republic of equals. However, I am afraid to say that the Government has not delivered. There was a chance to make nurses' pay equal. The Government failed in that. There was a chance to make young teachers' pay equal to that of their colleagues. The Government failed in that. There was a chance to reduce class sizes to a revolutionary level. The Government failed in that. The greatest issue in the run-up to the election last February was the two-tier health system. That will not change. The electorate also looked for pension certainty in that election, but it has not been provided. Low-paid workers will get an increase of 10 cent in the minimum wage. Although the local authority rates waiver will continue to the end of this year, there is no certainty going into next year.

Regarding climate action, anyone who canvasses around Ireland knows that poverty in certain areas is evidenced by the amount of solid fuel or oil fuel in households. They cannot afford solar panels. There is nothing in this budget except increased costs and energy poverty for people who are already poor. Where is the action against the big polluters? There is none.

There will still be a 30-month waiting list for the wind energy plan. Where is the State-run wind energy policy similar to the ones being promoted in other countries? There is none. I fear that changes will not arise out of this budget.

A couple of weeks ago, the home of one of the 1916 leaders, who promoted and advocated for a real republic and real equality, was demolished.

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