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

The Minister is effectively saying to struggling families that there will be nothing extra done for them next month or the month after that when they are preparing for children going back to school, and nor will anything be done for them in September. They must wait until October. They say a week is a long time in politics. For a family going under in this cost-of-living crisis, three months is an eternity. The lack of urgency shown by the Minister and the Government will not be forgotten by the people.

Workers on low pay are among those being hit hardest in this crisis. I will talk about one group of workers who have not received a pay increase now for 14 years. I am referring to the personal assistants at the Irish Wheelchair Association. These people do very valuable work. They help people to shower and use the toilet and bring them to the shops. This Government refuses to engage seriously with them or their trade union representatives, which has forced them to plan to strike next Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Government intends to increase the pay of judges, doctors, high-flyers and people earning more than €150,000 a year by 10%, 15% and, in some cases, €20,000 a year this Friday. The Government’s priorities are skewed and all wrong. The country is beginning to lose faith in the Minister and the Government on the cost-of-living issue.

This country is crying out for an emergency budget. People will not be too impressed with Deputies who vote against the motion. In particular, I draw the attention of the country to those Independent Deputies who spend a great deal of time criticising the Government but use their votes to keep it in office or save it from embarrassment. The way those Deputies vote on this motion tomorrow night should be watched very closely indeed. I will leave it at that.

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