Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

The scale of the rejection of the Government's referendum proposals was colossal. It was absolutely incredible to see the most significant referendum losses happen to this Government. There is no doubt in my mind that trust in this Government is on the floor now. There is a political bubble in Ireland between the political establishment, many of the NGOs and some of the media. At the heart of the Government's carers proposal was a promise that it would do everything to help carers, but most people who are either carers or in need of care saw the reality of the Government's lack of delivery. They saw the fact that respite services were closed in many counties. They saw the fact that people could not get access to carer's allowance. They saw the fact that childcare centres are closing, nursing homes are closing and children are being put into unregulated State care and actually going missing. It is incredible to see Ministers such as Deputies Humphreys and O'Gorman promise that there will be a new dawn in terms of the provision of care after the referendum. The referendum is not needed. All that is needed is the Government will. Will the Government therefore promise now to deliver for those who are suffering the most in this country?

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