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

We have made the case to the Taoiseach for a more comprehensive response. In fact, we have advocated for a mini-budget to deal with the very many costs that people are struggling with including sky-high rents, childcare costs and insurance costs that are out of control but up until today, the Taoiseach has singularly failed to listen to or respond to that message.

Today I asked the Taoiseach about the carbon tax hike and I put it to him that it is neither intelligent nor sensible to add any level of additional cost to people's home expenses at a time of soaring inflation and at a time when we know there is more, and arguably worse, to come. I want to put the question to the Taoiseach again and I want him to confirm for the House and the watching public that this carbon tax hike will not proceed on 1 May. It makes no sense at a time when families are struggling so badly. Every euro in costs, including the additional €22 on a fill of oil or €17 on the annual gas bill, counts. I want the Taoiseach to demonstrate that he can act, as he put it, "intelligently and sensibly" and call this tax hike off.

See this speech in context