Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was going to bring up a particular issue, but having listened to earlier remarks from the Tánaiste I do not believe he or anybody on the Government benches realises how low and middle income families in this country are struggling. They have no experience of it. I hear Members opposite say that they get it and they understand it, but they do not. I will give an example. A couple of months ago, I received a telephone call from a pensioner who on that Monday had only €5 left. She was crying and she did not know whether to use the €5 to top-up her pay-as-you-go meter to heat the house and have lights, or to feed herself until she was paid again the following Thursday. Members opposite do not understand it.

I will give another example. Married couples, both of whom are working, are being hit with the rising cost of petrol, food and so on. Every day of the week they are struggling. They are paying childcare fees that are equal to a second mortgage. The Members opposite do not understand it. They need to stop putting out the message that they do. Couples are looking at us in this House.

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