Before I begin, I wish to congratulate our undisputed world champion, Katie Taylor, on an incredible victory in Madison Square Garden on Saturday morning.
Sentiment score: 0.87
Katie, as we know, has fought all over the world. She has walked many times into the lion's den. I know lots of people are anticipating the mother and father of all homecomings and a fight, maybe, in Croke Park.
Sentiment score: -0.23
The Taoiseach has comprehensively ruled out providing a cost-of-living package in October's budget. The media today is full of reports that he is set to double down on the removal of support payments for struggling households. At a time when living costs are through the roof and people have been hit by skyrocketing prices from every direction, the Government proposes to abandon households and provide them with no help. The promises made during the election are disappearing like snow off a ditch. People cannot believe their ears when they hear the Taoiseach talk as if the sky-high living costs they experience every day are a thing of the past. Extortionate prices are not past tense. People are being fleeced today. They are being fleeced when they open their electricity or gas bills, get to the checkout with the weekly shop, go to fill the car or go to buy basic toiletries like toothpaste or shampoo. The out-of-control cost of living is making it so hard for working people to keep their heads above water as we speak. For the Taoiseach to tell households that he is not going to help them and to almost boast that he is determined not to help shows that he really does not understand the pressure people are under. People are not looking for lip service or sympathy from Government; they are looking for support and fair play. They are not getting a whole lot of fairness right now. For one thing, households in Ireland are paying 30% more on their electricity bills each year than the EU average. That is nearly €350 more. The ESRI says that it is difficult to explain why electricity prices here are so far above those in other countries. People are taken for a ride, and now the Taoiseach proposes to cancel the very help they desperately need with their energy bills. He should be continuing to provide energy credits as part of a cost-of-living package in the budget. That is the truth.
Sentiment score: 0.11
We have had six months of this do-nothing Government. Now, the Dáil is about to rise. As it rises, the Government will leave people with stress and uncertainty. People will face big rent hikes next year, thanks to the Government. Students and their families face a big hike in college fees, thanks to the Government. Also thanks to the Government, tens of thousands of families will be left without cost-of-living supports and will wonder how on earth they will make it through the winter. Ní féidir leis an Rialtas teaghlaigh atá ag streachailt le harduithe praghais as smacht a thréigeadh. Caithfidh sé pacáiste costas maireachtála a thabhairt chun tosaigh sa bhuiséad. Households are under enormous pressure and are unable to keep up with soaring prices. The Government simply cannot abandon workers and families like this. I put it to the Taoiseach that the Government must include a cost-of-living package in October's budget.
Sentiment score: 0.07
The deficit in our infrastructure is on the Government.
Sentiment score: -0.40
It has presided over that. The Taoiseach is right that investment needs to be made. The mistakes that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have made during the past number of Administrations have to be corrected. The Taoiseach is right about that. However, he is entirely missing where the lives of families and people are at.
Sentiment score: -0.09
He is right to say that the rate of inflation has fallen, and thank God for that. However, he is entirely missing the fact that prices have not followed suit. Anybody who goes into a supermarket or shop or opens a bill can tell the Taoiseach that we are in a place where households are still struggling. On the Government's record, in the past five months the price of home heating oil has risen by €25 per fill. Petrol and diesel prices went up in May and the Government will go for those again in October. Local property tax has risen. Rents have gone up. Students' fees, as we know, are also due to go up. The Government has shown no regard or sensitivity for the realities of struggling households and workers. I am simply asking the Taoiseach to wake up and become aware of the realities of people's lives. They need these supports. They will need a cost-of-living package come October, mark my words.
Sentiment score: -0.06
It is on the Government.
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Who is disputing that?
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Meanwhile, Johnny and Mary cannot pay their bills.
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The Government needs to sanction Israel.
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That is not true.
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This is a disgrace. It is very hard to listen to.
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It is not child welfare to leave dying kids in Gaza to bleed out.
Sentiment score: -0.05