Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Molaim an Teachta Ó Laoghaire as an rún seo a thabhairt chun tosaigh ar son Sinn Féin agus as an obair atá déanta aige chun an cás seo a chur chun tosaigh le tamall fada anois. Tá a fhios againn go bhfuil teaghlaigh amuigh ansin faoi fíorbhrú leis na costais agus iad ag tabhairt aghaidh ar mhí Lúnasa agus ar pháistí ag dul ar ais ar scoil. Mar a dúirt an Teachta, tá na billí ag titim isteach tríd an doras na laethanta seo. Níl dabht ar bith go raibh an líne a bhí ag an Rialtas ná nach raibh aon rud chun tarlú go dtí an cháinaisnéis ach, mar gheall ar an rún seo atá curtha chun tosaigh anocht, chímid go bhfuil an Rialtas ag bogadh, cé nach bhfuil sé ag bogadh fada go leor.

The mantra from Government that there would be no more individual measures until budget time was very clear. We were all told that the issue could be dealt with comprehensively at that time but we can be thankful that Deputy Ó Laoghaire has continued to raise this case and, in moving this motion, has forced the Cabinet to act. There was a scramble of Ministers meeting with the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform to come up with a measure to counter what Sinn Féin is asking for. We welcome any money going to families who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis but let us be clear that this is not enough. Some 500,000 families have been left out, families who earn less than €80,000 and who should be getting this payment of up to €282 for children aged 11 years and older.

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