Darragh O'Brien speaks in the Dáil in support of the government's motion of confidence, thanking frontline workers and criticising sections of the opposition for hostile behaviour. He urges colleagues to focus on practical measures - including fuel bill relief - as Ireland confronts a global crisis.
Thanking frontline workers
Darragh O'Brien opens by thanking Gardaí, bus drivers, public sector staff and other frontline workers who have carried heavy burdens in recent days. He frames the debate against the backdrop of a global crisis affecting Irish households and businesses.
Criticising opposition conduct
O'Brien criticises parts of the opposition for what he terms a "political pantomime," accusing some deputies of abrogating their responsibilities and of aggressive behaviour in the Chamber. He singles out votes against excise cuts during the March 25 package as a key example of what he sees as unconstructive opposition.
On policy and financial measures
He stresses the limits of one-off packages while defending government efforts to protect citizens, businesses and the vulnerable. O'Brien flags upcoming financial resolutions on fuel bills and support measures, and says the Dáil record will show who supports those measures.
An appeal for responsibility
O'Brien calls on all TDs to discharge their duties responsibly rather than scoring political points, urging constructive engagement from opposition parties he says are offering workable ideas alongside criticism. His address combines defence of government action with a plea for unity in crisis response.
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I obviously want to support the motion of confidence in the government, but I want to commence my remarks by thanking the Gardaí, by thanking our bus drivers, by thanking the public sector, by thanking all the frontline workers who have had to put up with a lot over the last week or so. I also want to recognise, and we know this, I'm a TD in Dublin, like all my colleagues on the government side, we know our constituents. We understand the difficulties that people have and the pressures that they're under. We also understand that this is a global crisis, that we're grappling with a global crisis here in Ireland that every other country in the world is. And I actually do despair today, again, to listen to some of the political discourse that has been a political pantomime. Now what we have seen by some, not by all in the opposition, is them abrogating their responsibilities as TDs and legislators here. You've a responsibility to work together to help our people and our country through this unprecedented crisis. And on the 25th of March, when we brought the first package of measures forward, all of the opposition, with the exception of the main opposition party, voted against every excise cut that day. Voted against actual support. There's no point of order. There's no point of order. There's no point of order. Minister O'Brien. What I would say, that's a fact. Check the record. There is no point of order. There was no point of order. Minister O'Brien. Go ahead. I'm going to move on. Just in the interest of this. Now what I've heard, at that I am not. What we've heard here from Pearce and others is an example of Sinn Féin's behaviour today. What we have heard though, from some, some in those benches, not all, has been literally despicable. That what you've done is, any time a female deputy stood up here, or a minister, you shouted them down. And Ken O'Flynn, you have a look back at what you've done. And what I'm conscious of, is the people outside, the very people that we all represent, who are really concerned about what's happening all the way across the world, and in this country. Yes, how they pay their electricity bills. Yes, how they put food on the table. Will they keep their job? If they're looking in at this today, and by some of the behaviour, the misogynistic behaviour, the nasty, the nasty, nasty, vicious, nasty, and vicious, and vicious language. That's the way your party treats me, with your homophobics. Nasty, nasty, Minister O'Brien. If you stop telling lies about me, I'll stop telling lies about you. Nasty, Nasty, Laskan Córda. Would you ever, please. I think. Go ahead Minister. Thank you Laskan Córda. I think, look, none of us in government, and I hope none of you in opposition, fail to grasp the gravity of the global crisis that we're in. And it behoves all of us to do everything we can to protect our citizens and our businesses, and the vulnerable, as best we can. Are we going to be able to resolve every problem here in this country that is visited upon our citizens by one or two packages of financial support? No we're not. But we're doing our level best to assist, and to be fair, to be fair to some in the opposition, I listen to contributions from Labour, the Social Democrats, and from others, Deputy Paul Governing. There are people who are actually really trying to put forward cases and ideas. And yes, you criticise government, constructively, fine, or not. But then I look at the main opposition party. What did you actually bring forward? Minister Peter Bourke mentioned one line, do everything you can on energy prices. Shin him aids. Shin him aids. So, the fact of the matter is, I would ask people, my final question is, is this evening, we will have financial resolutions down to cut fuel bills, to bring forward measures like what the Royal Holder years, 40 million euro per month in support. And the question will be, it will be on the Dáil record, of who is going to support that, and who will actually vote for that. So, last Councillor, I would say, all I would say is, I'm not going to shout it down by Peirce Starr, he's a late bloomer to democracy. All I would say to you is, it is here, it is here, it is here, it is here, right Minister. Stephanie Daugherty, look at him again. Stephanie Daugherty, look at him again. Go ahead Minister, finish. We have very serious matters, we have very serious matters in this House, in this House, and measures to bring forward to support our people. And I would hope, and I would hope, and I would hope that those on the opposition side would discharge their responsibilities appropriately and stop trying, stop trying to just consistently score political points. You couldn't care less about the people.
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