Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We all recognise that the mood music on the pandemic is not as good as we thought it would be. The mood music from our neighbours in Britain has also not been particularly helpful in recent times, particularly on the Irish protocol. It has given succour to some of the more extreme elements within unionism but in fairness the European Commission has shown a willingness to offer solutions to those in the North who may have difficulties with supply chain issues. That is where the emphasis needs to be.

When we talk about a budget we talk about laying out a framework on how we deliver services and we talk about a plan for the future of how we see our society. I think of those workers in Horseware Ireland in Dundalk, which was a flagship clothing company in the town. We had official confirmation that 33 jobs will go and the company will be relocated to Cambodia. I will let Members decide for themselves why that has happened. This is a follow-up on a similar number of jobs that have been lost through redundancies and relocations. I have made contact with the offices of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and the Tánaiste. I request that the Government use all the powers it has to ensure these workers who have done their damnedest in a company that was synonymous with Dundalk are given the protections they deserve. We must ensure they get the best result possible. We are talking about a company that is not unionised and, therefore, there is a necessity for Government to take a step in this.

I will continue with what has been said by many of my colleagues. It has been said to me on the street that the budget was a scattergun effort to cover all the bases. The checklist is covered but insufficient resources have been put in where they could make a difference. It was said that it was an attempt to make something that was inoffensive. On housing, from a renter's point of view, this budget is utterly offensive and we have a failure to do anything for renters. I even bore myself when I speak about what Sinn Féin has proposed for renters. That is a cap on the ridiculous rents we have and putting a month's worth of rent back into renters' pockets through tax credits. That is a necessity as people are in a bad situation and that is what we need to do as we move forward. There has been abject failure in offering supply of housing, including council houses, affordable mortgages and affordable cost-rental. We need to cover all those bases and we are failing miserably to do so.

We also have an energy crisis. I get that some of these matters are out of the control of the Government and the European Commission and others are required to engage to improve on this. The fact that we are allowing another increase in carbon tax is piling further pain on people who cannot afford it and who do not have alternatives. This is not a solution to the climate change difficulties we have. Childcare is another issue. People are paying high rents and large mortgages and then they have secondary mortgages to pay for childcare. We need a paradigm shift and a system that will involve greater Government spending and deliver a service that is fit for purpose. That would take the sting out of the cost of childcare for our people.

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