Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also acknowledge Nicola Sturgeon, who has been an outstanding leader and an outstanding advocate for the independence of her country. I have absolutely no doubt but that she will continue always to advocate for the country and the people she loves. Nicola, beir bua agus beannacht.

The Taoiseach gave me a very studied non-answer to my question, unless he is contesting the reality that three in five people report that they have no money left at the end of the week, or unless he is contesting the fact that those on low and middle incomes are struggling badly and need answers from him now as to what he is prepared to do now, not retrospective self-praise, which, I remind him, is in the end no praise.

I have asked the Taoiseach to set out specifics. People are struggling with the cost of their mortgages, they are struggling with the cost of their rents and their energy bills are now sky-high. As for groceries, it is widely reported that people are making choices between food on the table and the electricity bill. Will the Taoiseach please be more specific and set out in his view what needs to happen to support these struggling families?

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