Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

It is important to remember this in terms of a critique: Paschal has always a communicated an air of fiscal responsibility and rectitude but the truth is radically different. There is absolutely no doubt that while in position, this Government became synonymous with waste and rip-off politics. From the national children's hospital to the bike shed, the Government has incinerated taxpayers' money on an industrial scale. In terms of the spending of taxpayers' money, it was a free for all. There were dozens of projects way out of line. Nobody enforced accountability, unfortunately, during that time.

In terms of costs for families, €1.9 billion in motor tax and VRT was collected last year. There was €4.1 billion collected in fuel taxes last year. Tolls were jacked up. Electric Ireland made super-normal profits, all the while nearly half a million families are in fuel poverty of some sort.

It is also clear that this particular announcement was a shock to the Government because the reshuffle is a dog's dinner. Usually in reshuffles, you remove Ministers who are not performing and there are many Ministers not performing here. The Minister, Deputy James Browne, is a Minister for housing in reverse at the moment. The Tánaiste has surfed through a number of different Departments from higher education to health, justice and foreign affairs.

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