On behalf of the Rural Independents, I want to condemn both sides in Israel - the horrific attack by Hamas and, indeed, the ongoing response of the Israelis - and the death of that young Irish citizen. It is horrific. I want to ask the Tánaiste how come the Government had a budget this week and it did not even mention these workers who are going on strike next week. Forced to go on the picket line, they do not want to go on the picket line. They are the best carers out there looking after our elderly, vulnerable, s…

To leave them out completely and the strike pending beggars belief.

Parity.

Budget 2024 has spectacularly failed to provide relief to workers. Despite significant financial flexibility, the Government has neglected the concerns of working men and women throughout the country. The Government talks about this but it did not do anything meaningful with the USC. The cuts introduced offer limited relief to low income families while the decision to cut the universal social tax by 0.5% has done nothing to help workers. Our budget submission proposed the abolition of the USC, as the current Taoise…

They are overwhelmed with it.

Live horse and you will get grass.

Do you have the GPs?

Tell that to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan.

You cannot get a felling licence.

They cannot do it. They are not able.

Ar an gcéad dul síos, I congratulate the Minister for Finance, Deputy McGrath, on his first budget. I am delighted that his wife and seven children were here to listen. However, it is a failed opportunity. It is a typical accountant’s budget that just moves the figures around and manages them. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, said it was a great country in which to be a child. Goodness gracious, what is he thinking about? How could he say this? It could not be further from the truth. It is certainly not the reality fo…

Gross.

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

No, it is not.

Why was that?

I support the Sinn Féin amendment. Many workers are feeling hard done by. From today, the average working family will be approximately €15 per week better off. When all these increases come into place, it means nothing to those workers. I acknowledge the risk of poverty to anyone on social welfare, particularly those on disability, pensioners and one-parent families and the need for these people need to be supported. However, we simply cannot forget that it must be pay people to work. We see businesses from the sma…

One of the two radiography machines in University Hospital Limerick is out of order since last Thursday. This is supposed to be a world-class facility for cancer care not only serving Limerick city and county, but also Clare, Tipperary, Kerry and parts of Cork. My office has received numerous calls from cancer patients whose treatment has been delayed by over a week. You can understand how anxious they are and how worrying that is. Why is it taking so long to fix the machine? It has been out of order since last Thu…

The Minister's own backbenchers are not here. An Garda Síochána is the same. Her own constituency is the worst in the country for numbers. Will she wake up and smell the coffee? PR exercises and stunts such as walking down O'Connell Street flanked by senior gardaí are no good. It does not cut it. I salute the members of An Garda Síochána for the bravery and courage they have shown against all kinds of adversity. Now, when they need to be supported and respected, they are not getting respect from the Commissioner or…

The Taoiseach is a phantom leader.