Pearse Doherty

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and Members for facilitating me. We are here today because of the heroic efforts of the parents of children with scoliosis and spina bifida, because of their determination and because their love of their children. We are also here because they never stopped fighting tooth and nail. In particular, we are here because of the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, Stephen Mo…

We are all waiting for the change.

Hear, hear.

It does not stop them from breaking it first.

Hear, hear.

The Government is choosing to make driving more expensive. Instead of getting prices under control and ending the rip-off, the Government is actually making things worse. Election promises are now in the rear view mirror, disappearing like snow off the ditch. We have seen the biggest budget deliver massive tax cuts for developers, investors and landlords, but nothing for workers. Every worker will…

Ba mhaith liom plé a dhéanamh ar Phobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola ar an Fhál Carrach. Seo scoil atá i mo cheantar féin. Chuaigh mo chuid deartháireacha ag an scoil blianta ó shin agus tá an scoil i ndrochdhóigh; ní dabht ar bith fá dtaobh de sin. Tá iarratas i ndiaidh iarratas curtha isteach ag an bpríomhoide agus obair na gcapall déanta ag an fhoireann ansin ó thaobh an oideachais atá siad ag cur…

The community in Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola have been very patient. The staff and the board of management have been very patient. They have made their case time and again but patience is running out. What the school needs now is clear. It needs decisive action from the Department. The Minister of State talked about the six applications that are in and there could be more going in. The problem…

I want to begin by expressing my sympathies and those of my party to all the family and those who loved Eugene Nudie Hughes, the Monaghan football legend who crushed the hopes of many who played against him and gave joy to so many people who love our Gaelic games. He is being laid to rest today. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Tá gnáthdhaoine ag streachailt le billí móra agus iad ag feiceáil na tosa…

You would not expect developers to say anything else, would you?

Tánaiste, you talk about misrepresenting and misleading. You are the star of that show; that is your film. You are the person who made a promise to workers that you would reduce their taxes this year and you have left them worse off.

It is in your manifesto. It says that this will happen each and every year. You are the fella who promised to parents that you would cap childcare fees within 100 days of going into government, but you broke that promise. You are the guy who promised students that you would reduce student fees. They are now paying more this year than they paid last year. You are the guy who is misrepresenting the …

Seriously, Tánaiste, you tell us we should support these measures, which will see huge amounts of taxpayers' money go into the pockets of developers, because Cairn Homes and Glenveagh Properties told you this will work for them.

Does you know how much profit they made last year? It is on the public record that Cairn Homes made 22% and Glenveagh made 21%. What is your response? It is to give them more money. They can now make €5 million in profit on an apartment block and pay no tax whatsoever. That is absolute nonsense. People are annoyed because you have decided to leave workers worse off.

You have decided to withdraw the energy credits. You have decided to jack up local property tax. You have decided to put up petrol and diesel. You have decided to put up student fees. People are so annoyed-----

-----because you have prioritised those at the top and you have royally screwed the workers you promised before the election you would look after - another promise broken.

No, no.

No, not at all. You promised that this would be done within the first 100 days. Stop misrepresenting what you said.

You did not say five years. Show me where in the manifesto it said five years. Every year you said we would get a tax reduction. Every year you said there would be a tax reduction.

Stop misrepresenting yourself.

Tell the truth.

Nonsense. Tell the truth.

13 years. You created the crisis.

You promised in 100 days. You promised every year.

You are lying over and over again to the public.