Natasha Newsome Drennan: Ministers Back Big Profits, Not People
Natasha Newsome Drennan confronted government ministers today over tax breaks given to major fast-food chains and developers, arguing those measures harm ordinary working people. She cited protests in Kilkenny and personal messages from older people, workers and parents to show how Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael policies are worsening the cost-of-living crisis.
Main accusation: Drennan directly challenged ministers on the floor, asking how generous tax breaks to McDonald's and Burger King serve the public interest. She accused the government of enabling large profits for developers while ordinary families receive only crumbs in support.
Voices from Kilkenny: Drennan recounted spending time on the picket line in Kilkenny, describing broad public support and solidarity from local businesses. She detailed the volume of emails and personal stories from people unable to heat their homes, younger workers who feel hopeless about affording housing, and parents worried for their children.
Economic consequences: The speech pointed to concrete effects, saying tax breaks have inflated developer profits and pushed average apartment profit estimates from around 50,000 to 80,000. Drennan highlighted small measures like marginal discounts to fuel and heating as inadequate against runaway housing and living costs.
Political charge and stance: Drennan accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of failing to listen and of making political choices that have added to people’s suffering. She affirmed her solidarity with protesters and vowed to hold ministers to account for policies she says prioritise big business over families.
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Government ministers spoke earlier today about how government measures and responsibilities and that they have the best interest of the people of Ireland. But Minister, tell me this, in your last budget you gave a generous tax break to the highly profitable fast food giants like McDonald's and Burger King. How is that in the best interest of ordinary working people? Your tax, sorry? I asked you the question, how is that good for the ordinary working people? The people that we were out on the protests with. Your tax breaks ensured that the profits of big developers pushed the average profit of an apartment from around 50,000 to 80,000. Yet when ordinary working people try their best to get by, to go to work, to raise a family, to find a home, ask for a break, ask for supports, they're given crumbs. A handful of cents off the price of green diesel and home heat denial. Average prices of a home continues to run away from the reach of ordinary people. I'm proud to have spent so much time with those on a protest in Kilkenny. Ordinary people from every walk of life, people who are tired, who just want to break from the struggles of everyday life. What I found was so uplifting was the constant support coming from the public, from local business who wanted to stand with those on the picket line. The sheer volume of people who have emailed me over the past few weeks, who have shared their own personal stories of how the cost of living crisis has been suffocating their lives. But Minister, they've been suffering before now, it hasn't just been because of the war, they've been suffering and that's because of your government. I got emails from older people, from people with disabilities who wanted to be out with the protesters, but you know what, they couldn't. Because they were at home trying to stay warm, in their beds for longer than they needed to, because they can't afford heating oil. Simple as that. I met workers in their 20s and their 30s who feel helpless. They said to me, what's the point in paying taxes in this country? What's the point? I'll never be able to afford a house. I don't know if I'll be able to afford to have children. Parents that I met, they're worried about the future of their own children. Those grown men cried because their businesses are going under. The political decisions of Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael have only added fuel to their fire. I stand with the ordinary people I stand with the ordinary people of Ireland who have absolutely no confidence in government. And the emails, the volume of emails that I've got, have stated that quite clearly. For ministers to say that some of the people on the protest, and ministers said that here today, that they were their friends on the protest. Minister, you don't treat your friends like that. Minister, I can go back to Carl Luton Kilkenny and I can hold my head high. And I know whose side that I am on. Minister, you and your government have failed to listen to the people. You have failed time and time to hear the people. Shameful.
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