Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would love to know which of the cost-of-living payments that will be paid to people in all of our constituencies between now and Christmas the Deputy would like us to cancel. If he would let me know, I would like to hear those proposals. Does he want me to stop the double child benefit payment in the first week of November? Does he want me to stop the double child benefit payment in the first week of December? Does he want me to stop the €300 fuel allowance payment? Does he want me to stop the double payment to carers in October, which we have just discussed? There will be another double payment at Christmas. Does he want me to stop the living along allowance payment? Does he want me to cancel the energy credits? It is easy to come into the House in a large way and make statements. Perhaps he could tell me, when he rises to his feet, which of the cost-of-living payments this Government is providing with taxpayers' money to his constituents that the Deputy's constituents do not want.

We will be very happy to reflect on that. From travelling around this country, my experience has been that while inflation is falling and the economy is going well, but right around the dinner table tonight, people in the here and now are saying, "I am sick and tired of people on the radio telling me the economy is going well. I am still struggling to pay my bills. When I take the trolley around the supermarket, the cost is still large." I make no apology for giving people a little bit of their own money back in the here and now. If people do not like that - Deputy Shortall can scoff if she wants. She, too, can tell me which ones she is against because I am fed up of this sneering and scoffing.

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