Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

For many people, there is a personal crisis and a family crisis. I know the debates have to go on at European Union level, but we have to inject some degree of certainty about the timeline. Are we talking about next October or before then? The Taoiseach talks about an inclusive process with social partners and stakeholders. What does that mean? We increasingly see people who are at breaking point. The Taoiseach must see them himself. Their budgets do not stretch to providing a roof over their head, food and energy. They are hoping that there will be good weather. That is the point we have come down to. There is a significant windfall for the Government, since VAT take increases as energy prices increase. How can that sit side by side with people in that kind of difficulty? Will the Taoiseach give us some certainty?

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