Paul Murphy: Calls for Dáil debate on return to austerity
Paul Murphy called in the Dáil for a debate on what he characterised as a return to austerity, arguing the Government is prioritising landlords and property developers over ordinary people. He criticised recent budgets, saying two pre-election budgets with once-off payments have been followed by a post-election austerity budget as the cost of living crisis deepens.
Paul Murphy accused the Government of ushering in "an era of restraint, austerity in other words" and described the move as deeply cynical. He said the current budget represents a return to austerity after two pre-election budgets that contained once-off payments.
He highlighted the human cost of the policy shift, noting that four in ten parents are cutting back on meals so their children have enough to eat. He argued that the measures benefit landlords who will see rents increase and property developers who benefit from shrink-inflation, rather than ordinary families.
Paul Murphy demanded a full Dáil debate on the direction of fiscal policy instead of allowing the Government to normalise austerity. He pressed for the issue to be heard in the chamber and questioned decisions taken without full parliamentary scrutiny.
The speech also recorded a procedural clash over the Order of Business, with exchanges about the Chief Whip and multiple whip requests. Murphy noted there was no dissent at the Order of Business meeting last Thursday except for rolling dissent and urged the House to proceed amid a busy legislative schedule.
Austerity criticised
Paul Murphy accused the Government of ushering in "an era of restraint, austerity in other words" and described the move as deeply cynical. He said the current budget represents a return to austerity after two pre-election budgets that contained once-off payments.
Impact on families and housing
He highlighted the human cost of the policy shift, noting that four in ten parents are cutting back on meals so their children have enough to eat. He argued that the measures benefit landlords who will see rents increase and property developers who benefit from shrink-inflation, rather than ordinary families.
Call for a Dáil debate
Paul Murphy demanded a full Dáil debate on the direction of fiscal policy instead of allowing the Government to normalise austerity. He pressed for the issue to be heard in the chamber and questioned decisions taken without full parliamentary scrutiny.
Parliamentary procedure dispute
The speech also recorded a procedural clash over the Order of Business, with exchanges about the Chief Whip and multiple whip requests. Murphy noted there was no dissent at the Order of Business meeting last Thursday except for rolling dissent and urged the House to proceed amid a busy legislative schedule.
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Transcript
Let's have a debate on that, Taoiseach, so we can hear it. We heard this morning from the Government that we are facing an era of restraint, austerity in other words. So we had two pre-election budgets with once-off payments and now after the election we have a return to austerity budget. Deeply, deeply cynical. While the cost of living crisis is deepening for ordinary people, when four in ten parents are cutting back on meals so their children have enough to eat. Deputy for ordinary people, not for the landlords who will see their rents increasing and faster, not for the property developers who benefit from shrink-inflation. We need to debate it in the Dáil instead of allowing the Government to normalise a return to austerity. I noticed all the requests from the various whips. At the Order of Business meeting last Thursday there was no dissent in relation to the Order of Business for this week, just the rolling dissent. Deputy, if I might just say that the Chief Whip has not even had a chance to get the words out of her mouth. When you allow that, when you allow her to finish, I will then. She had another sentence to complete, Deputy, if you would wait, then we can make an adjudication. Deputy, if I might just say that the Chief Whip has not even had a chance to get the words out of her mouth. When you allow that, when you allow her to finish, I will then. She had another sentence to complete, Deputy, if you would wait, then we can make an adjudication. Chief Whip, we have a really busy schedule this week, with several pieces of important legislation, and I propose we proceed with the Order of Businesses set out.