Tánaiste Simon Harris has taken aim at the Opposition for pushing increased spending, despite serious concerns over potential US trade tariffs and the uncertain outlook for Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector, reports RTE.
During Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil ahead of the summer recess, Mr Harris said the Government is implementing supports for households, including the continuation of the 9% VAT rate on energy and a broader fuel allowance scheme.
However, he argued that anyone ignoring the economic uncertainty currently facing Ireland “simply does not get it.”
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty responded by highlighting that over 300,000 households are now in arrears on electricity bills, and 175,000 are behind on gas payments, reports RTE.
He criticised the Government for getting ready to break for the summer without promising a cost-of-living package in the upcoming Budget.
Elsewhere, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore slammed the Government as “epic wasters”, reports RTE.
Ms Whitmore said families are struggling to put food on the table.
She noted there are economic warning signs and an increasing level of anxiety about the future.
She accused the Government of spending heavily last year to win votes, only to now dismiss one-off supports because there’s no election looming, reports RTE.
Ms Whitmore said her party had called for well-targeted support measures.
She argued that while Fine Gael brands itself as fiscally responsible, it has in fact been “throwing public money around like snuff at a wake”.
She pointed to a 50% rise in public spending over a few years, despite a worsening housing crisis, record numbers of homeless people, inadequate disability services, a cost-of-living squeeze, and deteriorating energy and water systems, reports RTE.
“This Government, you’re epic wasters, you have wasted time, opportunity… and you have wasted our money,” reports RTE.
Mr Harris replied by accusing the Opposition of double standards, asking which of last year’s one-off payments Ms Whitmore opposed.
He said the Opposition is so divided that it hasn’t united behind a presidential candidate or on a shared fiscal position, reports RTE.
He said Sinn Féin advocates for broad-based one-off supports, while the Social Democrats favour targeted aid—yet neither has a coherent plan. He assured the Dáil the Government would present its 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, reports RTE.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said that many people would be judging the Government’s “report card” on the Dáil’s final sitting day.
He claimed that 10,000 homes the Government had pledged “never materialised” and said the only thing that’s become more affordable is cocaine, reports RTE.
“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.
Mr Harris replied that Ireland currently has record-high employment, budget surpluses, and the capacity to create two sovereign wealth funds to buffer the country against future shocks, reports RTE.
“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.”
He said the Government has enacted reforms in both housing and health services, reports RTE.
He thanked Deputy Tóibín for his comments 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, reports RTE.
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