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

What people who are living this struggle have had is delay, dithering and lack of clarity from the Government bar the one Minister of State who was very clear and told people to stop complaining and shop around. I take it from the Taoiseach that that is not the official advice from the Government. The Government should stop dithering and should intervene in a way that is proportionate to the real struggles facing people. At the time of the budget, the Government fell short on social welfare adult payments and in terms of the fuel allowance, the season itself and extending eligibility for it. The Government has fallen short for months while Sinn Féin has called on it for a discretionary fund and to package and tailor initiatives, particularly for low- and middle-income families. What do we get? Mañana mañana, dither and delay. That is simply not good enough now.

As an important first action and signal, albeit one that would not be the be-all and end-all, I want the Taoiseach to state categorically that the Government will not proceed with the carbon tax hike in May at a time when people are struggling to afford a fill of home oil. Will he make that clear, please?

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