Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like all of my colleagues - the Leader, the Cathaoirleach and my many friends around the House - I deal with a large number of people every day and every week. I am concerned that so many people are saying everything is doomsday. Everything in this country is not doomsday. I accept when the Opposition and others say we have challenges with housing, the environment, etc. We have all of those challenges. As politicians, however, we have to lead and in a time of deep crisis we should all pull together to lead our people. I am concerned about the anxiety that is sometimes caused to people unnecessarily.

On the issue of anxiety, and again I do not expect everybody in the Opposition to agree with me, we must acknowledge that the Government, in the recent budget, did everything in its power to reach out to those who need financial support over this period. On the weekend of 5 December, the double social welfare payment will be paid. We have already made part of the payment to assist with electricity costs and there are two more payments to come. A double children's allowance has been paid. I am not asking anybody to roll out the red carpet but simply stating that we are doing the right things. We have a massive challenge in housing and I agree with most Opposition Members when they say housing is challenging, as do most of my colleagues. The Cathaoirleach, the Leader and all Senators agree that nobody can solve that challenge overnight. I am meeting more people who are now looking at some of the newer schemes, which will at least try to help them to get on the housing ladder.

As Senators will know, my background is in horticulture and I fully accept we need to take measures to protect the environment. I am not a doomsday merchant but I have met so many younger people who say they have no future because the planet is gone. Politicians cannot have such a mindset. We must lead our people and give them hope. Whatever differences the various parties and Independents have, in a time of great crisis we need to lead our people.