Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

Households continue to subsidise data centres' electricity bills through the PSO levy. The burden is due to get bigger because the Government refuses to change its unfair approach. This budget is a missed opportunity to end our over-reliance on fossil fuels. Renewable sources such as offshore wind provide cheaper, more reliable and sustainable energy that will protect us in a volatile global market, but this needs to be done collaboratively with local communities and to the benefit of those communities. The idea there is no knock-on impact on a local area makes no sense. Like many of the Government's policies, this has become divisive. I sometimes begin to think that this may be on purpose.

In just over two weeks' time, we will elect a new Uachtarán na hÉireann, a President of Ireland. There are now just two continuing candidates on the ballot paper. Thousands of Irish citizens will not be able to vote because they live in the Six Counties. How there has been no attempt on the part of the Government to right this wrong in time for this election is beyond me. That those who are Irish citizens and who live in Ireland are unable to vote in an election for Irish President is simply wrong. Bunreacht na hÉireann makes it clear that unity is the will of the nation, yet the Government refuses to plan, prepare or advocate for it.

The Good Friday Agreement enshrines the right to national self-determination, placing the democratic future of the island in the hands of the people. By refusing to engage in the discussion, the Government is undermining the democratic promise of the agreement and failing to progress the will of the nation. Building a new and united Ireland is the most important task for a generation. We should not under any circumstances allow our society to sleepwalk into referendums we are not fully prepared for. We are clear that citizens' assemblies on a united Ireland must be established immediately.

Just as the Government seems blind to the realities of today, it is also blind to the opportunities of our future. The prospect that all of us can collaboratively build a new Ireland should excite those in government. It should get them out of bed in the morning and make them think "What can we achieve?" Doing as I describe can benefit all the people of Ireland, our society and our economy. All these are positive things, but those in government seem to have blinkers on. Today's budget was an opportunity to build on that and to tackle head-on the issues of the day in order that this State can fully realise its potential.

The housing crisis can be solved and we can ensure a place to live for all the children of this nation. We can ensure that our people can access healthcare when and where they need it. Children do not have to continue to live in poverty. These are all things that can and should be tackled, but, unfortunately, a Airí, I am beginning to realise it is not that you are unable to tackle these crises, it is that you are unwilling to.

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