Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim céad míle fáilte roimh na cuairteoirí atá anseo inniu.

Before I begin, I take this opportunity to wish the female garda taken to hospital last night a speedy recovery from her injuries.

Struggling households were dealt two body blows on Monday. The first blow was that food inflation has reached its highest level in nearly two years. People are being ripped off when they go to the supermarket and it is clear as day to them that they are being ripped off. The second blow was the big hike in electricity prices for hundreds of thousands of SSE Airtricity customers, adding hundreds of euro to their bills. The Taoiseach was asked yesterday how bad things actually have to get before the Government does something. The Government needs to stand up to these companies and protect people from this greedy profiteering. When the Taoiseach responded to Deputy Mary-Lou McDonald, he said that the Government is engaging with these companies. If he is referring to the meeting that Darragh O'Brien had with energy companies on 26 September, then the top brass must have left confident that it is business as usual for them and open season. Since the Minister's big meeting, Energia, Bord Gáis, Pinergy and SSE Airtricity all jacked up their energy prices. This is reminiscent of May 2023 when Fine Gael Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond, gave the big supermarket chains six weeks to get their prices down. Today, those prices are absolutely through the roof.

While prices rise and companies continue to gouge households, the budget has left working people worse off. The Government refused to deliver a cost-of-living package, cancelled energy credits, removed double child benefit payment and decided not to give ordinary workers a break in their income tax. All of its decisions are piling more pressure on people who are already hard pressed. Surely the Taoiseach meets ordinary working people who are struggling. He must hear their stories of worry and stress, so why does he not do something about it? At one of my clinics last weekend, I met two teachers. They have two children in college. They have to pay for their dates and their fees. Their third child is due to start college next September. They have had to ask him to take a year out when he finishes the leaving certificate because they simply cannot afford to send him to college. Imagine that. We now have a situation whereby two teachers are so hammered by a cost-of-living crisis that is completely out of control that they have had to ask their child to look towards their future and not go to college when he should be doing so. It is bill after bill, and they simply cannot take it any more.

This couple are not alone, and the Taoiseach knows that. Working people are drowning in a wave of sky-high bills. They see absolutely no end in sight. There will be real tension when people's electricity bills land. The Government pushed back against proposals to get energy costs down. It ignored a major report which shows that companies are not passing on the drop in wholesale prices to Irish households. It acts as if this is not even happening. It needs to get off the bench and needs to start fighting the corner for ordinary households, because they simply cannot take it anymore. The Government needs to stop protecting these big companies and give regulators the powers they need to end the price gouging and stop this rip-off.

Feiceann daoine nach bhfuil aon deireadh ag teacht ar an ngéarchéim sa chostas maireachtála. Tá Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael breá sásta seasamh siar agus ligin do na comhlachtaí móra seo leas a bhaint as daoine. Caithfidh an Rialtas a phost a dhéanamh agus céimeanna a thógáil chun cuidiú is cosaint a thabhairt do theaghlaigh.

The Government refused to include a cost-of-living package in the budget. Now it is refusing to include meaningful measures in the Finance Bill to help workers and families cope with runaway prices. My question is simple. Is this it? Is this all the Government has for families? Is it just going to leave these households on their own? Will the Government do anything to tackle runaway prices as people face a rip-off winter that will push them even further back?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ní aontaím in aon chor leis an Teachta. Tá an-chuid déanta ag an Rialtas seo maidir leis an gcostas maireachtála. Tá i bhfad níos mó déanta againn ná aon rialtas riamh i stair na tíre. Tá an-chuid déanta againn maidir le teaghlaigh ar ioncam íseal sa tír seo go háirithe. Is é an rud agus an cinneadh a rinneamar ná níos mó a thabhairt do dhaoine atá ag fulaingt agus faoi bhrú.

I reject completely the Deputy's assertion that the Government has not responded to the cost-of-living issues. Without question, over the past three to four years there has been a significant increase in inflation, particularly in the immediate aftermath of Covid and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which had a damaging impact on energy prices. Inflation went as high as 10%. The inflation rate is now back down to about 2%. The IMF is saying that in Ireland's case, it will come down to about 1.7% over the next two years. I acknowledge that there is elevated pressure and that prices are at a higher level because of that inflationary period, but remember that we brought in free schoolbooks for every child in this country and free hot school meals for every school. We also reduced transport costs. We reduced drug payment costs significantly over the past number of years and extended eligibility for access to general practitioners, which eases the cost of living in a permanent way for many families.

The Deputy ignores all of that and condemns us for not giving energy credits to the wealthiest in society. That is Sinn Féin's argument here this morning. I know what Sinn Féin said during the energy crisis. It took the Liz Truss approach to dealing with it and wanted to bail out the companies.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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The Government gave them tax breaks

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sinn Féin wanted to give a blank cheque to the energy companies when we had that real energy crisis in the after-----

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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The Government gave tax breaks.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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We did not give them-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Yes, you did. You put forward the very same proposal that Liz Truss brought forward in the UK-----

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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You did not read it. If you read it, you would understand it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----which had catastrophic impacts on the UK at the time, and on the Prime Minister of the day too.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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You would not let Bertie run but you are robbing his ideas.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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In the recent budget, we increased the child support payment by over €16 for those over 12 and by an extra €8 for those under 12. That is a significant permanent package to enhance the approach to addressing child poverty issues in this country. The working family payment threshold has increased by €60 a week, which will allow more families to qualify or to get support. We have extended the fuel allowance, and between 24% and 26% of households will benefit from the fuel allowance. We have brought in pension auto-enrolment, with significant State investment, which will benefit about 750,000 workers into the future.

We have focused on protection of jobs in this budget, particularly in the context of the research and development tax relief. Jobs and the protection of jobs are the most effective way to enable people to deal with high costs of living. The fuel allowance has been increased. In addition, the reduced 9% VAT rate on gas and electricity bills has been extended to 2030, which is a significant measure by any yardstick in terms of costs in this regard. The renter's tax credit has been extended until the end of 2028, which will help and is helping renters. Mortgage interest relief is extended for two more years for certain homeowners. That supports middle class families who are carrying mortgage costs.

Significant changes have been made to third level education eligibility. The income thresholds are significantly high now, well over €100,000 for eligibility for grants and for fees. The evidence for that lies in the exponential growth in third level education in this country.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Let us look at what is actually happening under the Government's watch. A total of 300,000 households are in debt with their electricity bills. One in five children is in poverty under its watch.

Now today, I have told the Taoiseach two teachers who want to send their child to college - who wants to go to college - cannot afford to send them because of the policies he has implemented because the Government has failed to grasp the nettle here when it comes to the cost-of-living crisis.

To be honest, I have listened to what the Taoiseach has had to say here today which is people are imagining this cost-of-living crisis. Clearly from what he is telling us is, the Government has done all these things that are alleviating it. Well, they are not working. As Taoiseach, you need to take leadership and a bit ownership on this. The Taoiseach needs to grasp this nettle to say yes, there is a serious cost-of-living crisis and this is what I am going to do. The Government needs to accept the reality that what it has been doing to this point has pushed more people into poverty, into debt and has pushed more children into homelessness and poverty.

What people want to hear from the Taoiseach today is what is he going to do now to help them.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I go by the metric of consistent poverty------

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Poverty.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and real deprivation, not relative. The Deputy has been using relative all along. That is her figures.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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You should include housing in it if you are interested in doing something.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Second, the numbers going to college are increasing significantly year-on-year.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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It does not matter.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no evidence base to support what the Deputy is saying in respect of that. In terms of the energy question------

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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So they are liars.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is no doubt there is a fundamental issue in terms of the regulatory framework that governs our energy markets, not just in Ireland but across the European Union, particularly its linkage to gas prices.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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What are you going to do about it?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is the more fundamental issue that has to be dealt with and addressed. I make the point there is a balance here. What Sinn Féin wanted to do was spend an extra €4 billion on top of what the Government spent. We have increased public expenditure by 7.5% which is quite high. Sinn Féin wanted to add another €4 billion to that-----

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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To deliver the hospital beds.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----which would have increased inflation by 2%. That is what you proposed. That would add to the cost of living and would add to prices. Those are not my figures, that is by the rule of thumb that is deployed by the Central Bank.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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I condemn the awful scenes we saw in Citywest last night. One far-right account in advance of the riot posted online that "Citywest IPAS centre needs to be stormed." That was the clear goal last night, to overrun the accommodation centre. This was not done to protect children or the community, even if that is what the organisers claimed to the people they brought along with them. The organisers were intent on sowing chaos. It was done to whip up fear, create division and terrify vulnerable people. I commend gardaí for containing the violence and bringing it under control.

The alleged sexual assault of a ten-year-old girl who was supposed to be in the care of the State is shocking on so many levels. My thoughts are with her and her family. People across the country are rightly horrified. The alleged perpetrator is now in jail. He was not in Citywest last night but innocent men, women and children were. Vulnerable international protection applicants who have every right to be here, all would have been terrified by the riot outside. Many are now no doubt living in fear. After the last riots in Dublin, many children of colour did not turn up to school across the city the next day. They were afraid to leave their homes, afraid their skin colour would make them a target. You have to imagine that is happening again today. People of colour, all over the city, now scared and on high alert. I wonder how children who are living in Citywest are feeling today. I wonder how many of them felt safe enough to go to school. It is disgusting that an alleged sexual assault on one vulnerable child has resulted in other children being terrorised.

Last night's rioting was orchestrated by far-right actors online. They pedal racist myths that international protection applicants are more prone to crimes against women and children. They openly incite violence and celebrate it when it happens. While they spread their dangerous and divisive disinformation online, there is an onus on everyone in this Chamber to counter that rhetoric. We must use language carefully and factually, continue to point out there is no link between migration and crime, counter racist innuendo about asylum seekers and highlight the vast majority of deportation orders have nothing to do with public safety concerns. They are issued because people do not meet the very narrow criteria to make a successful asylum application.

What measures are being put in place to ensure that vulnerable men, women and children in Citywest are kept safe, and have threats been made against any other IPAS centres?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue in the manner she has; it is a very important issue. In the first instance, I too want to thank An Garda Síochána for its bravery, courage and professionalism-----

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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----- in dealing with a very serious and grave situation last evening, where the Deputy correctly said, innocent people were threatened in terms of their own safety and security, particularly children, and also the surrounding neighbourhoods where walls were apparently damaged for people to get missiles to throw against the gardaí.

The gardaí come from our community. They are there to protect us all. It beggars belief that these people would articulate such vile abuse of members of An Garda Síochána and would then attack them in a very serious way which could cause injury and damage if they did not have their protective clothing. It needs to be dealt with robustly. We are very clear, and the Minister for Justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is very clear we are in total solidarity with An Garda Síochána and that our criminal justice system needs to hold the people responsible for last evening to account. We wish the female garda who was injured the very best. It was a very difficult situation those young gardaí faced last evening and they should not have to face that.

Also, it is a matter of genuine and sincere concern the alleged assault on a ten-year old-girl but the whole circumstances surrounding that is a matter of deep concern and our thoughts are with that ten-year-old young child and her family and so on. Our job in the State is to protect and support that child. That child, in my observation, was not protected by the State and that is it. I do not mean that is it - I am calling it that way. We then have to respond as a State to that.

I have been consistently raising this issue, certainly for a long time but with greater intensity in the past number of months, of the attacks on ethnicity and I have condemned attacks on people because of their ethnicity, colour or creed. I have met with different groups who have articulated concerns to me. Young people, in the context of the child poverty group that was formed, have told me the fears they have. I do not like using this phrase but these are Irish citizens who may be of a different ethnicity - Asian ethnicity or whatever, it does not matter - but the point I am trying to make is they were articulating to me they were afraid to go into town. Some of their siblings were afraid of being chased home from schools. Employees are being attacked. Employers have reported this to me.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. He can come back in.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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As a society, we need to address that. I am very clear about that but equally then, we must also be open to voices - not last night now - but in this House and elsewhere, who raise issues and who would not condone at all what happened last night. It is important we try to have a civilised debate here. I am not saying the Deputy is not doing that, but I just noticed things yesterday. We have to engage as an Oireachtas.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach is over time. Deputy Cairns will be coming back in.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We must protect our fundamental values. The dignity of every human being matters. I am 100% with the Deputy on that.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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I genuinely welcome the Taoiseach's comments. I also hope he will practice a bit more of what he is preaching today because they are welcome. In comparison to yesterday, when Deputy Fitzmaurice raised increasing knife crime in the same breath as concerns about the asylum system, the Taoiseach's response was to thank him, and I quote, "for raising the issue in a responsible and fair way." Then when my colleague, Deputy Quaide, later pulled him up on that and said we had a duty not to use that kind of language which inflames tensions, the Taoiseach accused him of being intolerant and asked him to reflect on his comments.

The Taoiseach should reflect on that. He should show leadership and counter false narratives like that rather than indulge them. I am not saying that we cannot discuss the asylum system; we absolutely have to do so, but it should not be too much to ask that we do so in a fact-based way and that we shut down racist tropes. This is something we all have to do at every opportunity. I hope the Taoiseach will do it too in the future. What plans are there to counter those false narratives?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not preach, but I do practice. In carrying out my duties as Taoiseach or as a public representative and in all of my life, I do so by means of actions and practice. These speak much louder than words or preaching. I take exception to the Deputy's suggestion-----

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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I just-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----that I should practice what I preach. I will outline my position on this. In everything I do as a public representative, I will embrace all people, whether it is in connection with a school, a community or whatever. I will go out of my way to do that; it is the right thing to do. I do not expect any credit or anything like that. It is the natural thing we should do, and that is what I do.

In respect of Deputy Fitzmaurice's comments, I know that Deputy Cairns and her party took exception. If we keep drawing hard lines-----

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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He was wrong.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, please do no interrupt.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Could I please just make a very important point? If we keep drawing hard lines, we are giving ground to the people who did what they did last night. There are people in this House who may not share our perspective entirely on this. It is important that we hear those voices-----

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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The Deputy conflated knife crime with migrants, and you welcomed his response.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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----- and then address the issues by means of a fact-based and evidence-based approach. If you keep-----

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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That is pure arrogance.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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----- with a certain degree of arrogance-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Taoiseach, time is up.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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The last resort of the desperate.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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What you are saying is, "We know best. Don't be-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Taoiseach, you are way over time for the third time today.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----stupid over there, and, please, come with us." That will not work. If you are trying to score points off people, it is not going to work.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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There is best practice. It is not good form

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call Deputy Brian Stanley.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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I wish to raise the many problems in the National Ambulance Service. Staff are doing their best but there are problems beyond their control. I will outline some of those problems. There are not enough staff or ambulances. We have approximately 1,500 staff. Scotland, which has a similar population, has more than double that number. We have 675 operational ambulances in the service. Scotland has more than double that number.

There is a problem with so-called dynamic deployment, and I really want to push the Taoiseach on this. What dynamic deployment means is that ambulances can be sent anywhere. An ambulance based in Laois could be sent as far as Cork or Waterford. Ambulances are being sent that far. Sometimes they are turned back when they are within a couple of miles of their destination because a local ambulance has got there a minute or two quicker. A crew can do more than 600 km across a shift and only pick up one or two patients Recently in Laois, there was only one crew and one ambulance on call. When the crew clocked in, they were immediately sent to Wexford. Meanwhile, Laois was left without an ambulance. There is one ambulance station. On Monday and Tuesday nights, there is only one ambulance available. An ambulance can take up two hours to arrive at locations within the county - it might not even arrive at all - because of this. That is no fault of the staff.

As stated, only one ambulance is on call on Monday and Tuesday nights. That ambulance can be sent to destinations three counties away, which has actually happened. Recently, a young person died less than a mile from the hospital. There is, as already noted, the one ambulance base in the county and there was no ambulance was available to pick up that child. Two ambulances were on call at the time but both were attending calls in other counties.

We have less cover in the county than we had 15 years ago, despite the fact that the population has increased by over 40% and now stands at over 100,000. There is also a problem with the rapid-response vehicles in the county, namely the cars used by advanced paramedics. Again, there is less cover now. The drivers of those cars used to be allowed to bring them home. Regardless of whether they were on shift or not, if they were contacted, they would leave from their homes and rapidly deploy to the scene of an accident or emergency. They not doing that now because some genius decided that they had benefit-in-kind because they had cars with all the signs on them that they might be using to do the shopping or something like that. As a result, these vehicles are left at the base and the extra cover that people were offering on a voluntary basis is no longer there.

In addition to everything I have outlined, we have a staff shortage and retention problems because of staff burnout. The Irish Medical Times reported earlier this year that the critical shortage of advanced paramedics is endangering life. There are targets in this regard. I have them here. They were sent to me in the form of a reply to a parliamentary question I tabled recently. In a situation involving a life-threatening illness or injury, the target time for advanced paramedics to reach the scene is 18 minutes and 59 seconds. That is only happening 45% of the time. If you set a target that low, of course you will not meet it. It is ridiculous. Will the Government put an end to the madness of so-called dynamic deployment? Will it invest in more ambulances and increase the number of staff available? Will it step up recruitment immediately?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. At one level, the National Ambulance Service and pre-hospital emergency care have been transformed over the past 20 years in terms of the professionalisation of emergency medical technicians, EMTs, and of the level of response in general. There has been significant investment in the service. This year, €8 million has been allocated for new service developments, for 180 additional posts in the service and for increased capacity for aeromedical services. As of 30 August last, total staff numbers stood at 2,400. That is a 25% increase since 2020, meaning that 502 extra people have joined the service. Some 85% of those staff work in direct patient-facing roles.

The issue of dynamic deployment has arisen since the configuration was developed many years ago. On the surface, I can instinctively empathise with the Deputy's point because it does mean that ambulances are travelling long distances. We have to respond to this in an evidence-based way. I will talk to the Minister for Health and have further engagement with the National Ambulance Service and the professionals involved as to what is the optimal deployment of staff and ambulances and what is the best way to do it. In Dublin, for example, there has been a unique situation where Dublin Fire Brigade has provided a very effective and efficient ambulance service for many years. The HSE and the service were arguing the toss as to how to reform and reconfigure it. In that context, one view for a long time was "If it's not broke, don't fix it.".

We should be open to examining what is the optimal way to deploy the resources. Many professionals would say that what they are doing is the optimal way to do it. The Deputy is articulating a different perspective. I respect the points he is making, but I do think we probably need to look at this in a more evidence-based way. Perhaps the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health could examine it in more detail. The professionalisation of the service and the development two dedicated helicopter emergency medical services, for example, represents a significant expansion that is enhancing our response. As the Deputy knows, the key responder, namely an EMT or a first responder who is qualified and professional, can save lives. There have been a lot of very positive reforms and a great deal of significant investment in the service in the past number of years. There have been issues and, from time to time, Members have raised the matter to which Deputy Stanley refers.

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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The Taoiseach is correct about the investment, but we will not get the benefit of it because of the way the system is configured. The Taoiseach used the word "evidence". I will tell him what the evidence is. A county has no cover because the ambulance that is on call has to go to an emergency two or three counties away. That cannot be allowed to continue. That is the way Laois has been left on two nights each week. If a person is injured or is in a life-threatening situation only a mile or a half mile from the hospital, there is no ambulance to collect them. This is because the two ambulances that are there during the day have been sent somewhere else. I am not arguing for them to be kept within a strict limit, but a radius needs to imposed. I previously raised the case of a farmer who a few years ago was left lying in a farmyard in the Clonaslee area for two hours because there was no ambulance available in Portlaoise to be sent to assist him.

The officials will give the Taoiseach answers and will blind him with the figures they have available, but he needs to look at the reality of what is happening. I am spelling out the reality in black and white.

I am asking the Taoiseach to review this dynamic deployment. The Government needs to do it, invest in more ambulances and step up recruitment of staff.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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To be fair, we are talking about 430,000 urgent and emergency calls in 2024. That is the scale of this issue. It is a 32,000-calls increase, or an 8% increase, on 2023. The Deputy has done the statistics. Performance is improving with 72.5% in 2023 to 73.2%. against a 75% target for life-threatening cardiac or respiratory arrest. We have to look at alternative care pathways as well. The Deputy mentioned the rapid response car. I have had experiences myself where that has been far more effective and fast in cases that maybe did not quite require an ambulance once one had the confidence of either a GP or a medic who could say "Look, we can manage this in a certain way and get the person to a hospital". We have to use the resource to the optimum. That is the objective. One of the biggest issues has been turnover time at hospitals at times of high demand in emergency departments. They are working to improve that outcome.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Before I call the next speaker, at the behest of Deputy Richard O'Donoghue, I welcome Greybridge vintage club to the Gallery.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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I have some great friends with me today. I have been involved in Greybridge classic club for the past 15 years. The youngest member, Louise Crowley, is in the Gallery and she is the Limerick IFA chairperson - the youngest chairperson in the organisation. She has been a member of the club since it started and is also its secretary. The Macra na Feirme president and the outgoing president, Elaine Houlihan, are here as well.

These people have been working around the area raising money for charities and people in need. Cliona's Foundation is one of the main beneficiaries of the Greybridge classic club. A total of €300,000 has been raised since its beginnings. We have a Christmas light run on 30 December in Limerick to raise money for vulnerable people, including Cliona's Foundation and Milford hospice. No matter who we ask when we go around the county, and all vintage clubs across the country are doing it, even if people do not have a few bob themselves, they come up with it and support people who are vulnerable.

We are having a presidential election. I will not mention any names but we have a candidate who has withdrawn from the race. This question is coming from members of the Taoiseach's party who have asked me this so I need to ask him. Is it correct that if that candidate who has withdrawn gets 12.5% of the vote, the Government will be reimbursed for the money it has spent to date and the taxpayers of this country will end up having to pay for that? It will come out of the public purse, which is raised by taxpayers. If he reaches a certain percentage, even though he is not running for the presidency, will the taxpayers of Ireland will pay for the mistake of running him in the first place during a cost-of-living crisis and after a budget that gave nothing back to working people but increased their taxes? This is the question the members of the Taoiseach's party are asking. They want to know whether it will be refunded for putting up a ghost candidate during a cost-of-living crisis.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome all those who have come from Limerick and from the Greybridge vintage club. I mention vintage clubs all over the country, which do a lot of charity. We all have experienced that in summer festivals or whatever. They bring a bit of excitement, colour and novelty to events and, in the process, raise significant funding. We thank them for that and the work they do. I will not be able to join the run in Limerick closer to Christmas but I will do a swim on New Year's Day.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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I will supply his tractor.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is my commitment. I am not going to dive into the ocean with a tractor. It is wonderful and reflects the very strong value of community in the country. I acknowledge that.

In the context of the cost-of-living crisis, the Government has taken a lot of measures that I outlined in response to an earlier question, particularly in terms of supporting families and increasing the child support payment by €16 for a child over 12 and €8 for a child under 12; extending the fuel allowance to the working family payment, which now means that about 26% of families are covered by the fuel allowance; continuing with the free books scheme, which brings about huge savings for families; and the hot school meals, which have been very effective for many families. We have also kept VAT on electricity and gas prices at 9%, so we have done a lot in respect of the cost of living but on this occasion, we have targeted it. We have provided schools with the highest ever capitation grant, which is €50 per pupil for primary and €20 per pupil for post-primary. This will help schools to meet the cost of living-----

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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What about the presidency?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am coming to it. The Deputy did mention the cost of living. Just as he dealt with the question, I will reply to him in like fashion. What we did in the budget in raising public expenditure was to invest in services that matter to people, so we prioritised disability, child poverty and infrastructure for more roads, rail, buses, schools and healthcare facilities across the board. That matters to people.

In fairness to the Deputy, he left Fianna Fáil a long time ago and is now an Independent. His concern for our members is touching but I respectfully suggest that we will deal with that within our party in terms of the issues. The law is the law in respect of deposits and returns. The people will decide. I know we cannot comment on the presidency.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach is running out of time and he cannot comment.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would just make the point-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Taoiseach can come back in again.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his vague answer. The bottom line is the taxpayer will pay regardless. The vintage clubs are very important to me for one reason along with the men's sheds and women's sheds. The vintage clubs look after our ancestors and our past and use it for the present to raise funds. The Taoiseach is right. I did leave Fianna Fáil a good number of years ago and am now a member of Independent Ireland, a political party for the people of Ireland. It gives me a voice which I did not have within the Fianna Fáil Party and I will keep using that voice. I want a clear answer to my question. Will the taxpayers of Ireland have to pay for a candidate who is not running? With the laws that are in place, will the taxpayers pay?

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have just answered it - with the laws that are in place. The law is the law.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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So the taxpayer-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is it. I admire the Deputy's commitment to vintage clubs, men's sheds and women's sheds. I have had a spin in Jack Lynch's car myself. We have enjoyed all of that. The juxtaposition of vintage clubs, men's sheds and women's sheds with the presidency and the rules that apply perplexes me-----

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
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It is to do with charity and raising funding.

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----but it is a very novel way to come around the subject matter. The law is the law. People are entitled to vote in whatever way they wish and if that means deposits or whatever are returned, so be it. I do not think people vote on that basis.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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It is not normal for me to comment but I too would like to endorse vintage clubs. I attended a charity vintage run on Sunday where there were 638 vehicles. That is a huge offering in respect of a charitable contribution to any community, so well done, particularly to the clubs in Wexford.