Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, on behalf of the Social Democrats, I congratulate the Taoiseach on his election. Today is a special day for you and your family, for your wife, Mary, and your friends. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role that families and partners play in supporting all of us in public life, very much behind the scenes. This is rarely acknowledged and it is appropriate to do so.

I also congratulate all those who have been appointed to Cabinet. It is a proud day for you and your family and friends.

However, this Government is already going in the wrong direction. There are only three women with senior Ministries appointed to Cabinet. That is down, from four in the previous Government. Does the Taoiseach not see anything wrong with this? It is 2025. Does the Taoiseach really think this is acceptable? Does he not think women should have equal representation at Cabinet level?

Earlier, I said that the Social Democrats would work constructively with the Government and other members of the Opposition in this Dáil and I reiterate that now. The Social Democrats have always been evidence based and solution focused in our efforts to make Ireland a more equal, sustainable and inclusive society. That will be our approach in this Dáil too. We will also robustly hold this Government to account. As members of Opposition, that is our job.

The decision by the Government to prevent the Dáil sitting next week is a brazen attempt to avoid sufficient scrutiny and accountability. Where is the urgency to tackle the challenges that we face in housing, disability, health and climate action? Where is the new energy that we heard so much about during the election campaign? It seems to have fizzled out. It is now three months since the Dáil sat regularly. The country faces huge challenges that need urgent action.

While Government work has ground to a standstill, one unilateral action was taken last week which I want to highlight today. The Taoiseach endorsed the IHRA definition of antisemitism which has been routinely weaponised to smear critics of the State of Israel as antisemitic. We saw examples of this ourselves on the front page of the Sunday Independent earlier in the week. The outgoing Israeli ambassador, H.E. Ms Dana Erlich, accused Simon Harris of being antisemitic and claimed that President Michael D. Higgins is fostering incitement. In the article, it was clear that she was relying on the IHRA definition to make these scurrilous accusations and the Government, by endorsing this definition, has opened up the door to these kind of baseless attacks. Does the Taoiseach now regret his decision? Antisemitism is vile and must be opposed in all of its forms. Criticism of the State of Israel is not antisemitic and this country should not endorse a definition that has been used to silence critics of a genocide.

In the run-up to the election, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the previous Minister for housing all insisted that 40,000 homes would be delivered last year in the absence of any evidence. In fact, you contradicted forecasts from the CSO, the ESRI and the Central Bank to spin this yarn, trying to massage home-delivery numbers in advance of an election. You have now been found out. There was a shortfall of almost 10,000 homes. Your dismal failure on housing is causing huge levels of anxiety and suffering. The Government is creating a society where only those on the highest of incomes can afford a home. It is dangerous and dystopian.

Fewer homes were delivered last year than in 2023. That does not sound like a plan that is working. The Government's housing plan is taking the country backwards, not forwards. Median house prices last year increased on average by €40,000.

Who can possibly afford these kinds of eye-watering price increases? We need a radical reset on housing.

The recent election had an air of unreality about it. Far from being prudent fiscal stewards, Fianna Fáil and, in particular, Fine Gael threw around tax and spending promises like snuff at a wake. They and others pretended that one can ramp up spending while slashing taxes. What we did not hear from either Government party, not to mention the motley crew of Independents, was a coherent strategy for continued economic growth and stability. This is needed to facilitate the investment in infrastructure and public services that this country so badly needs. It is simply not credible to plan those investments while massively eroding the tax base. Nor was there any sense of a contingency plan should the global economy take a turn. Donald Trump's inauguration this week brings this risk into sharper focus given his plans to upend trade. His announcement that he will exit the OECD tax deal poses a particular threat. Ireland, as a small, open economy, will be heavily exposed. There are risks, not only to our windfall tax corporation receipts but also to jobs and incomes. We need an alternative economic strategy.

Donald Trump is not the only threat on the horizon. In Europe right-wing and far-right populists are on the rise on a platform of nationalism and xenophobia. Ireland, as we know, is not immune to the far right and the spread of disinformation. There are those who seek to blame every problem on vulnerable minorities and those who seek to thrive on hate. All of us in this Dáil should stand against these malign actors. Ireland is a country that has always been welcoming. We do not punch down. It is, therefore, deeply concerning that the programme for Government includes proposals to restrict the movement of international protection applicants. This sounds like de facto detention. Seeking international protection is not a crime. The Government must urgently clarify this proposal.

It is nearly two months since the people went to the polls on 29 November. The message they sent us was very clear. They want action on the many challenges this country faces, not inertia. The Social Democrats will work constructively with all parties in this Dáil to make this happen.

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