The good news is even better than the Minister alludes to because not alone are we in a relatively strong position as an economy, as he brags, but in fact it is projected that the Government will take in €5.6 billion more in tax revenues than projected on budget day. The Minister talked about clarity but I ask him to allow me to give him clarity as he brags about the economic position and how well he has managed the public finances. As we meet today, in households across this country, getting a child back to school…

If I may say, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, it is very galling to hear on the one hand the bragging of Government on the wonderful job it is doing, how wonderfully rosy the economic outlook is and, while families suffer, the Minister sits on his hands. Nero fiddles and Rome burns.

Last month I raised with the Minister the shocking increase in the rate of homelessness and he described the position as disappointing, regrettable and concerning. The words "shocking", "shameful" and "unacceptable" are more appropriate because the latest report on homelessness is a damning indictment of Government housing policy. More than 10,000 people are now homeless and for the first time, single person homelessness has hit 5,000. There are more than 3,000 children homeless and growing up in hotels and bed and…

We have three boxing champions in the Public Gallery whom I wish to welcome and acknowledge. Amy Broadhurst is the International Boxing Association, IBA, light welterweight champion of the world, Dearbhla Tinnelly is the youth light heavyweight European champion and Evelyn Igharo is the current Irish elite champion at 70 kg. They are joined by coach Jim O'Neill from the Clann Naofa boxing club in Muirhevnamore in Dundalk. These women are trailblazers. They were around the House. Members met them and we were all a b…

For all of what the Taoiseach has recited on his list, Esther Pugh of the Barnardos centre in Loughlinstown has told the story of what is happening on the ground and the real fear and the real stress and pressure that families are living with. Our motion, by the way, does not state that the Government did nothing; on the contrary, we recognise the international factors. Putin is despicable and his war is despicable, but the job of this House, of the Taoiseach's Government in particular, is to protect Irish families…

I am asking it to recognise that families have to live and to exist day to day and week to week and that they are struggling badly. For the life of me I cannot understand why the Government resists what is so obviously needed. We need a comprehensive, targeted set of measures to give people support and breathing room in the here and now. The idea that they can wait until October as the Government decides on its package is simply not fair and not acceptable. I fear that the Taoiseach is being dismissive of the real-…

Yes.

Come on.

No it is not.

We cite the €5.6 billion more that the Government has in tax revenues.

People are not struggling. Okay.

It is a very difficult summer.

Last night, Boris Johnson's Bill to override unilaterally parts of the protocol passed its Second Stage vote in the British House of Commons. This legislation is in breach of international law. It potentially has devastating consequences for Ireland's economy and, indeed, for the Good Friday Agreement. What is the Government's response to last night's vote and what steps does the Taoiseach propose to take in response to this Tory belligerence?

We have a full Visitors Gallery. I hope I am allowed a bit of local favouritism to say céad míle fáilte to the páistí from Gaelscoil Bharra. I am sure the Taoiseach will say hello to them also. They were asking me earlier who is my biggest rival and I said I would have to say Micheál Martin. They kind of cheered that on. Cuirim fáilte roimh na paistí agus roimh gach duine eile.

I think it is best not said.

It is Gaelscoil Bharra from Cabra.

Yes, as in Fionnbarra. Iontach.

Hang on. It is not a Cork school. The Taoiseach cannot go seizing our schools.

It is important that the Taoiseach would hear the voices and experiences of people who are struggling to get by. For example, the woman who says: "My husband is 70. He is still working. He can't stop at the moment because if he stops, we know it will be very difficult for us just to live." Or the mother who says: "I have started to cut back on my food shop. The price of everything has gone up. Everything. The kind of things that we cannot do without. Or another mother who says: "I now go to a food bank. It is embar…

First things first. I am not asking the Taoiseach to chase inflation. I am asking him to recognise the reality that people are struggling now, in June, and that people will continue to struggle through the summer months, not to mention the winter ahead of them. The Taoiseach says that we need to protect our economy, and we do, but above all else we need to protect our people. Above all else we cannot take risks with our people, risks that have children hungry and parents crying. That is the reality. Unfortunately, …