The actions and decisions of the Government speak for themselves. It is clear for anybody who wishes to see precisely what the Government's priorities are that they are to look after those at the top. We saw that in the Government's €9.4 billion budget - landlords and developers - and now in this decision. It is a decision, approved by the Government, to increase the pay of CEOs. Here is the point of contrast. Some 1.3 million workers, as I told the Taoiseach, earn €45,000 or less. That is half the workforce. I can…

As we return for this new year, those families who struggled last year are struggling still on the Taoiseach's watch and he steps by and tries to argue that is not the case. They are living this reality.

Under Standing Order 35(3), I want to-----

Under Standing Order 35(3), I want to propose an amendment in line with the concerns raised by Deputy O'Callaghan. I refer to the decision of Paschal Donohoe, then Minister for Finance,-----

-----to hand over €141.4 million to the World Bank, way above what the bank required. It raises very serious questions and I believe the Government needs to make statements of clarification.

The Mercosur fiasco has the Taoiseach's fingerprints all over it. He claimed for years that he was defending Irish interests, yet when the decisive moment came Ireland was left isolated in a tiny minority because the Taoiseach had failed to lead, build alliances and act. France and Poland took a stand and Austria and Hungary likewise. Belgium could not support the deal an the Netherlands made its opposition clear. Ireland, on the Taoiseach’s watch, showed up late, voted “No” and utterly failed to influence events. …

As this is the last time I will take to my feet this year, I extend to everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas. Nollaig shona daoibh go léir. At the start of this year, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael formed the Government on the back of a grubby deal with Michael Lowry and his group of so-called Independents - a grubby deal that was all about keeping power, not about what is good for ordinary people. It was a deal that saw the Government appoint a record number of super-junior Ministers to Cabinet. Of course, the c…

The Taoiseach should please forgive me, as I did omit the issue of infrastructural failures from my list. I thank him for jogging my memory. In fact, the mythical metro of which he speaks has gone on for decades. It is a bit like the children's hospital. It is one of these things that is spoken of in hushed tones, billions are allocated and maybe one day we will wake up and it will be a reality, or maybe not - certainly not on the Taoiseach's watch. I would not have any great hope. It is the Taoiseach who engages i…

----- on a day-to-day basis in very practical ways, in making people's lives easier.

In fact, it seems to me that his ambition is to make people's lives more difficult. How is that for a Christmas bonus for people?

Two weeks ago, I asked the Taoiseach two questions. I asked him, first of all, whether the Government would vote against Mercosur when the vote comes to the European Council, and I asked him whether he would work with like-minded member states to form a blocking minority against this ruinous deal. He failed to answer either of those questions. I would now like him to make the Government's position clear because the vote is scheduled to take place in Brussels tomorrow. There is a chance of securing a blocking minori…

To block it.

To achieve what?

To vote against it.

I asked the Taoiseach whether he would vote for or against. He has not elucidated a clear response.

I welcome those from Mercy College, Woodford, County Galway, who are in the Public Gallery. I want to express my condolences to the families of those whose lives were so brutally taken during the horrific gun attack on Bondi Beach on Sunday. Our thoughts are with those families, the injured, the wider Jewish community and, of course, with the people of Australia and Sydney. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha. Households hammered by relentless hikes in energy and electricity prices are in disbelief today. They have …

We have had price hike after price hike. As I said earlier, not a glove has been placed on any of these gouging companies. Some 1 million households will face higher bills this Christmas. Over 300,000 households are in energy arrears. A so-called affordability task force has done absolutely bugger all to achieve affordability for those households and struggling families. We have a Government that is prepared to sit back and let households suffer. That is what I hear. Nobody is contesting the need for investment in …

Oh Jesus, do not start.

No, I want working people to be able to pay their bills.

No, I do not.