Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Does the Minister know the fear many people felt last July when the first interest rate hike was announced? Can he imagine the fear they felt last week when the tenth interest rate hike was announced? These are families who are struggling and are waiting on the Minister. A man who lives in Cork contacted me. His current mortgage interest rate is double what it was 18 months ago. He said "I am hoping Cork politicians will talk to Minister McGrath and get him to see sense and tackle the banks while helping mortgage holders, who are sinking fast with every new bill that is coming in. Only Pearse Doherty is standing up for us." Those are his words, not mine.

The Minister is telling people to wait for the budget. They have been waiting for over a year. They need this Government to support them now. They need help. Many people have struggled with all these interest rate hikes and now they are looking at a winter with unaffordable mortgages, unaffordable electricity and gas bills and unaffordable food prices. Where is the help? Do you know what they have said to me? Hard-working people and families have told me that they got an education, went to college, got an apprenticeship and became an entrepreneur. They did everything right. They work every hour that God sends and the one time they need help, this Government fails them and fails to step up. Where is the help for all the hard-working people in this country who get up every day? I am reminded of the Taoiseach's famous line about the people who get up early in the morning. They are telling me that this Government has forgotten about them. Does the Minister understand how tough it is for people right now? He will probably dismiss Deputy Doherty once again as he did when the Deputy raised the issue of insurance companies ripping people off. The Minister will probably dismiss him again as he did when he told the Government what was going to happen with the vulture funds. I am asking the Minister to listen to Deputy Doherty because this is common sense and really supports the people who are struggling.

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