People are at breaking point. They are struggling every day just to get by. Many of these people took to the streets last week to voice their concerns and engage in their democratic right to protest. What did the Government do? It vilified and threatened them. What kind of democratic republic are we living in when, instead of listening and engaging, our Government vilifies and threatens its citizens and treats them with contempt? It is simply despicable. The people of this country deserve better. They deserve a Government that listens to them, truly values them and works for the people and not against them. The citizens are crying out for help and to act instantly, not delay. I am getting hundreds of emails from my constituents. They are a cry for help. It is desperate and it is getting worse. We are dealing with a real issue and it is not getting any better. I will read out some of them. The first states: The prospect of owning our own home feels completely alien to use. It feels out of touch and out of reach. We are struggling. The both of us are working. I am a healthcare worker and my husband is in construction. We cannot afford to keep heating oil in our tank. We have two kids. What can we do? This is just the start. A third-year nurse also contacted me. She said, "I feel like I made the wrong decision to go back to nursing. I wish I went to Australia two years ago." Another one said: I got married last year. I have been working in a family-run business in the agricultural sector for the past 20 years. Myself and my wife both work full time to provide for our family - our two kids. Every week it is getting harder and harder. Neither of us smoke or drink. We do not go out socialising. We had to give up our pastime hobbies and we are constantly having to dip into our savings. There is no help. There is no future for us in Ireland. This is what they are saying. This is what is going on. People have given up hope. In Donegal, heating oil is used to heat 85% of homes. Over the past month, people have had to find an extra €700 which they simply cannot get. The oil has run out. They are sitting in damp homes. They are letting their kids go to bed holding hot water bottles and wearing extra layers. They are doing so in this day and age. Shame on the Government.

Sentiment score: -0.03