Deputy Mary Lou McDonald- speech from 31 May 2023
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Gino Kenny
Gino Kenny: Calls for Standardised Access to Cancer Medicines
Mattie McGrath
Mattie McGrath Urges Chemists' Role in Animal Medicine Safety
Mattie McGrath
Mattie McGrath urges temporary town relief bypass funding
Mattie McGrath
Mattie McGrath Blasts Housing Policy, Opposes Eviction Plan
Mick Wallace
Mick Wallace Criticises Parliament, Condemns EPP Walkout on Nature Law
Kathleen Funchion
Kathleen Funchion backs tougher sentences, urges early intervention
Transcript
On the watch of this government, workers and families are to the pin of their collar. Yesterday St Vincent de Paul warned that many parents are being forced to take out loans or to get help from charities to cover school costs and so-called voluntary contributions. You have failed to do anything to tackle sky-high energy costs, unlike other European countries. You refused to introduce mortgage interest relief, by thousands of families paying thousands of euros more every year just to keep a roof over their heads. You have done nothing to tackle price gouging that you have acknowledged by large retailers. And tonight in fact you will increase the cost of putting petrol or diesel in the car for those on their way to work in the morning. When, Minister, will we see a coherent plan from government to ensure that household costs come down and stay down and how, in the middle of doing little to reduce other household bills, in the middle of doing little to reduce other household bills, can you justify increasing the price of petrol and diesel at midnight tonight? The huge challenges that many are facing with the cost of living. For example, it is the reason why in June an additional €100 payment per child has been made available through a bonus child benefit payment. It is why we are making a further increase in the back to school clothing and footwear allowance. It is the reason why the hot school meal has been extended. It is the reason why we have made efforts to reduce school transport. It is the reason why, for example, an additional payment has been made available through the working family payment. That is what we have done. Deputy, the finance bill that you refer to is going to lead to a price – an increase in excise duty tonight. The reason why we are doing it is what we are doing is because when excise reductions were in, we were in an environment at the point when the price of diesel crisis was above € 2.20, headed towards € 2.30 – €2.40. EUR32, EUR40. As we speak today, it is significantly less than this, and Sinn Féin did not vote against the finance bill that is containing those excise changes. He did not vote against it, so please do not come in here today and suddenly discover a newfound concern in relation to those excise changes.