I do not believe the people want to see us playing Punch and Judy politics here this evening. The Government will secure a majority in the vote when the vote is taken but it would be both foolhardy and wrong for us not to acknowledge the level of fear, anxiety and frustration felt by many of the people we represent. Like many of my colleagues, I am in continuous engagement with the people whom we represent, despite what some in the Opposition might like to portray. The Government has acted. We now have a cumulative package of €750 million, one of the most comprehensive in Europe. The reason we have been able to go as far as we have, further than any other EU country, is because of the strength of our economy. The Opposition has the luxury of coming forward with uncosted proposals that have the potential to damage our economic model. Earlier, we heard a list of what the Opposition would do but no mention of the cost of that or how that list would be funded. The root problem is there is a war in Iran and a reduction in the production and supply of oil, which has left us dealing with the most severe energy crisis of modern times. No government can alleviate all of the impacts of this but what this Government must do is trust the people, keep them informed and always work with their best interests in mind.

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