It is really unfortunate that we have to have another one of these discussions. As we are all aware, the reality out there in the world is that people are under severe pressure. That severe pressure started long before Donald Trump, led by genocidal Israel, brought us into the madness we now find ourselves in. That madness also increases the absolute necessity for us to see delivery on the occupied territories Bill with regard to both goods and services while also pushing for movement on the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. We know that will be a difficult battle so we should do what we can ourselves. They created this madness but long before that, we had 317,000 people in arrears with their electricity and energy bills. One quarter of that number were in arrears with their gas bills. That is the reality. Every TD, elected representative and other person out there who engages with people will know that. I have no doubt the Minister of State has dealt with people who have been in even more difficult circumstances and who never believed they would be. We can talk about the moves that are being made in relation to public transport but for a considerable number of people, the car is the only option. We have not delivered for workers and families. We need to see a further decrease in costs, particularly the 15 cent the Government can act on. While I am talking during one of the warmest periods of the year, this being Ireland, it is not going to last. Those who need home heating oil and kerosene and those who are most vulnerable will need fuel very soon, if they do not already. Many were waiting on Government to provide some sort of relief but that relief did not come. That is what we need to see. We need to see those sorts of actions. It goes without saying that action should have been taken previously on energy company profiteering. We have not given the CRU the necessary powers to hold these companies to account. Sinn Féin and many others recently discussed such proposals but we have not seen action from Government. That is why there is a call for energy credits. These calls are made on the basis that it is something the Government can do now, despite its failure to take other actions. We continue to see waste throughout the system. That is the difficult piece for people. I refer to the €50 million written off by Irish Rail in relation to its train management system, which is absolutely dead in the water. That is before we talk about bike sheds, security huts and the national children's hospital. People are absolutely fed up with this. I have spoken with the Minister of State previously. It is absolutely necessary to provide a cost-of-living package and a cost-of-disability payment. We need a payment now and we need a properly constructed payment that works into the future and that recognises that the most vulnerable need these supports.

Sentiment score: -0.05