Tánaiste criticises Opposition for wanting to spend more

RTÉ News​

4 days ago

Tánaiste Simon Harris has criticised the Opposition for wanting to spend more money, even though there are major concerns about US trade tariffs and the future of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions before the Dáil ends for the summer, Mr Harris said there are measures being taken to help households, including extending the 9% VAT rate on energy bills, along with an expansion of the fuel allowance.
But he said that anyone who fails to take into account the level of instability facing the economy simply does not get it.
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said that there are now over 300,000 homes behind on their electricity bills and 175,000 behind on their gas bills.
He said the Government was about to swan off for the summer while refusing to commit to delivering a cost-of-living package in the Budget.
Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore accused the Government of being "epic wasters".
Ms Whitmore said people are worried about putting food on the table.
She said there are economic clouds on the horizon and a growing sense of worry about what the future holds.
She added that the Government splashed the cash in an attempt to buy votes last year, but now the Government is saying one-off payments are a bad idea as there is no election on the cards.
Ms Whitmore said her party told the Government to target measures and supports.
She added that Fine Gael styles itself as a party of fiscal probity, but in reality, it has been throwing public money around like "snuff at a wake".
She said public spending is up 50% in a few short years, but Ireland has a housing crisis, record homelessness, threadbare disability services, a cost of living crisis and energy and water infrastructure that is crumbling.
"This Government, you're epic wasters, you have wasted time, opportunity… and you have wasted our money."
Responding, the Tánaiste accused the Opposition of hypocrisy, and he asked the deputy which of the one-off payments that were in place last year she was against?
He said the united Opposition has not agreed on a presidential candidate, and cannot agree on budgetary matters either.
He added that Sinn Féin want universal one-off measures, and the Social Democrats want targeted measures, but the Government will deliver a Budget in October.
"It's not about giving anyone a lecture in fiscal prudence, it's about saying thank God we're approaching this moment of economic instability with full employment... with surpluses and a rainy day fund," said Mr Harris.
10,000 promised homes never materialised - Aontú
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said many people around the country will look to mark the Government's "report card" on the last day of the Dáil.
He said 10,000 homes promised by the Government "never materialised". He said the only thing that is more affordable at the moment is cocaine.
"Criminals are doing a better job in creating a functional market for an illegal drug than you are in terms of housing," said Mr Tóibín.
In response, Mr Harris said Ireland has record levels of employment, an economy that's running budget surpluses, and "an ability to create effectively two national wealth funds to protect our country from economic shocks".
"We have been able to take real measures in the here and now to help carers, to help increase the fuel allowance, to help the student grants, to help reduce the cost of books."
Mr Harris said there has been housing reform and major reform to the health system.
He thanked Deputy Tóibín for his perspective and said the Government has "already undertaken a lot of work".
"We will continue to do it while you will continue to critique us from over there," Mr Harris added.