The conflict in the Middle East and the global energy crisis have created major challenges for economies around the world. The Government fully understands the significant pressure rising costs are placing on so many families, workers and businesses across our country. All Deputies in this House are listening to people and businesses who are struggling. Listening, engaging and understanding is what has informed the significant intervention the Government has been able to make. However, the sum of the actions in the past week - blockading critical infrastructure, restricting free movement of people, disrupting critical supply chains and threatening An Garda Síochána - is reckless, irresponsible and deeply concerning for our society. In the space of six weeks, more than €700 million of support has now been made available to workers, households, businesses and the sectors most exposed to the increased fuel prices. Following specific engagement we have provided supports in transport and agriculture but, unlike what Deputy Bacik said, the majority of workers across the economy will benefit from the reduction in excise in terms of the price at the pump and also from the significant support that has been made around the expansion of the fuel allowance. While all countries are impacted, none have responded on the scale we have been able to respond to provide for our citizens, with the largest per capita support package of any EU member state. Táimid ag obair de shíor, ag éisteacht le daoine agus ag déanamh ár ndícheall an brú atá ar dhaoine a laghdú. Ón gcáinaisnéis amach agus ó thosach na bliana, chuireamar pacáistí cabhracha don phobal chun cinn. The reason Ireland is uniquely placed to make such a timely, timebound and targeted intervention is because of the strength of our economy and public finances. We have run budget surpluses every year since 2022, we have record employment levels and 500,000 more people working in our economy than at the start of the decade. We continue to reduce our debt, we are delivering record expansion of public services and by the end of this year we will have put €24 billion aside into two long-term funds. This is why have been able to respond to the sudden global economic shocks. Our economic strength has not been created by chance; it is because of the hard work of Irish people and the responsible and sensible decisions taken by Government, grounded in a pro-enterprise approach, being careful in how we expand expenditure. All I hear from the Opposition is a model of higher tax, higher spending, more expansion and continued populism in every decision it seeks to promote. The decisions we take at all times have been responsible and always in the national interest, building resilience. Our response to the challenge of today must allow to be able to respond to the unknown challenges of tomorrow. As we speak here, huge uncertainty remains about the conflict in the Middle East and the knock-on long-term impact of that conflict on prices and inflation.

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