Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

This year, though, has most of all been the year of broken promises by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, promises loudly made at election time and then thrown in the bin. The occupied territories Bill, diluted and sidelined, is a case in point. The Government promised tax cuts for workers, but it gave them to banks, landlords and developers instead. It promised support on energy bills, but it withdrew the energy credits. It promised to increase the renters' credit; it did not deliver. Does the Government remember that it promised €200 a month childcare? Where is that? It is not delivered. It promised to abolish student fees but then increased them by €500.

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