"Responsible" seems to have been the mantra from the other side all throughout the day as well as talk of how great those TDs all are but the Government did not read the room. It hid, it dithered and it ignored for months on end people who were trying to get it to listen to them about the hardships they were going through. The fuel issue last week was the straw that finally broke the poor camel's back. It certainly broke the back of the Minister of State earlier today. Years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael incompetence and indifference have landed the whole of Ireland in an unenviable position of needing to flood the streets in rage in protest at what has not been done. Working people, families, and elderly and disabled people cannot afford to heat homes and gas up their vehicles while the Government grants data centres lower energy costs at a time of record profits for big oil and gas corporations. Trump's illegal war on Iran has exacerbated higher fuel prices and taxes, yet An Taoiseach remained silent on this despicable war and the chaos it imposed on the world when sitting face to face with that man. Trump's God complex may have had the Taoiseach in awe. However, more than this, the Government removed the cost-of-living supports and refused to bring prices under control. It voted down every Opposition proposal to help everyday people, including Sinn Féin's legislation a month ago to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, including green diesel, and home heating oil. Now, when finally faced with the ire of the people and with the electorate awoken to its lack of governance, it brings forward insulting half measures that just do not cut it. It spends taxpayers' money slapping plasters on all of Ireland's problems rather than fixing the root causes. The country is unsettled and demands leadership. People are sending a very loud message that they reject the Government's feeble attempts to deflect, pat itself on the back - that is what I have heard all day - and to twist the narrative, especially when it comes to Sinn Féin and what we heard earlier about the carbon tax and the obfuscation on that. It is a display of ignorance, I would imagine.

Sentiment score: -0.23

The Government has lost the confidence of the people. Certainly, it lost the confidence of this side of the House a long time ago.

Sentiment score: 0.39