Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That was a pretty feeble answer. The Government is tired; it has created this problem itself.

The Government likes to blame the war in Ukraine but, as awful as that is, the Government has created this problem. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. That is what the Government is trying to do here. Some 40% is not nearly enough for businesses. I know of one SuperValu in Tipperary whose bill increased from €6,000 in February last year to €18,000 this year. What good is 40%? That is replicated for all other businesses, big and small.

The Departments did not have the energy to stop the money going to aid millionaires and people like ourselves who do not need it and can manage without it. What is wrong with the Government that it cannot do that? It is time for the entire Government to pack its bags, bí ar an bhóthar and go back to the people because the people know the Government has created this problem. It is blinkered by Green Party policies and no matter what happens it will continue with the folly of supporting the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and following him down this cul-de-sac from which there is no comeback or exit. It is a deep, dark cul-de-sac and that is where the Government will remain but the people of the country do not want to go down those cul-de-sacs. They are frozen, worried, they cannot afford to meet these bills and the Government is trying to kill their spirit. It will not kill that spirit because they are resilient people and they know they will get the Government out very soon from where they are sitting on their pretty seats.

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