Gach lá, gach seachtain, feicfimid Rialtas atá caillte agus nach bhfuil cúram air do ghnáthdhaoine. This is a Government that does not listen. It does not listen to the people or the Opposition. It also does not listen to its own backbenchers. Having ignored all the warnings, the Government stumbled into a full-blown crisis last week. When calm leadership was required, we got chaos. Instead of pursuing a strategy of de-escalation, Ministers decided to fan the flames. GI Jim O'Callaghan arrived on the scene thinking that he was Rambo. Cá bhfuil sé anois? The last thing the country needed was that approach. Thankfully, a very effective professional policing response from An Garda Síochána brought the country back from the brink. As the dust settles, people really struggling with the cost of living remain left behind, forgotten by this Government. These are people who cannot get their demands high up on the agenda by parking their trucks on O'Connell Street. They are people with disabilities who are already €1,400 worse off after this year's budget. A woman in my constituency had to make a choice this winter between heating her home and recharging her electric mobility aid. This meant she was virtually housebound for the winter. That is what this Government is doing to people. The words of a nurse sum up what so many people around the country are experiencing. She states: I am working with the HSE for 16 years. My paycheck goes straight to my account to pay bills, rent and childcare fees. I am in huge debt. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste should listen to this. She also stated: I cannot get a deposit for a mortgage together. I cannot afford a small wedding for myself and my fiancé. I cannot afford to go to the doctor or the dentist when I am sick or ill and by the end of the week, my fridge is almost empty.

Sentiment score: -0.08