Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I find the reply very lethargic and squeamish. Fine Gael has had several budgets since. It was in government after the 2016 election. The disregard it has for ordinary people is shocking but people looking in can see that the Fine Gael is not interested in ordinary working people. It has no time for them. It is the landed gentry party, big business here now, in a whirlwind talking about all the taxes. It is pathetic. Fine Gael has had several budgets since 2016 and made no effort to reduce this punitive tax or get rid of it. It was a temporary measure. I am old enough to remember the PMPA scandal and the temporary measure that came in then. The people outside have copped on to the Government and they do not need RTÉ to tell them. They can see themselves, in other media, the truth of what it going on, that the Government wants to screw the ordinary people and get into bed with the big shots in big business. The ordinary people make up the vast majority of normal families in this country who want to put the work in, put their shoulder to the wheel, educate themselves and house themselves. Fine Gael wants to punish them and keep them down.

In numerous budgets, in the Fianna Fáil supported confidence and supply arrangement since 2016 and in the programme for Government with the Green Party and Fianna Fáil the Taoiseach has made no effort to honour his election promises, blatant promises. People see them for what they are, namely, blatant, naked promises to the people to win votes. Well, he are out of luck this time. The people have copped on and will let him know what they think.

See this speech in context