Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Many workers and trade unionists in this country have been liking the spirited words of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers leader in Britain, Mick Lynch. Mick said last week there are more rich people than there has ever been and they have never been wealthier, and while they have full employment in Britain, they have falling real wages, which has to be addressed. He said people in full-time jobs are taking State benefits and are having to go to food banks to feed themselves. Anyone can work that out. You do not have to be a Marxist or a social scientist to work out that there is a problem at the heart of society.

I know the Taoiseach is not a Marxist, but we have full employment and falling real wages too. We also have workers going to food banks and have a massive wealth divide. Would the Taoiseach not agree there is a problem at the heart of our society too, a problem which his Government is completely failing to address?

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