YESTERDAY, AFTER A week of sustained fuel protests brought the country to its knees, the Dáil sat for the first time in 20 days.

What was the government’s overriding priority? Ripping up the Dáil schedule to remove any opportunity for the Opposition to question them on their shambolic handling of both the protests and the cost-of-living crisis that led to them.

Instead, they bulldozed a confidence motion in themselves into the start of the Dáil’s business, sweeping away scheduled items like Leaders’ Questions and Taoiseach’s questions.

Independent TD, Michael Healy Rae waving to the crowd after his resignation. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

It was shocking, but sadly not surprising, because this is a government that is allergic to answering questions or accountability. Not just that, it refuses to listen to the Opposition, its own backbenchers and the wider public.

That, ultimately, is what led to the turmoil of the past week. An aloof, arrogant government that isn’t listening to people; doesn’t understand the real pressures people are under; and only operates in reactive mode – instead of planning ahead.

The cost-of-living crisis didn’t suddenly emerge six weeks ago when Trump attacked Iran. It has been growing and worsening for years. This government has had the resources to provide meaningful support to people, but has failed to do so. Instead, people who are struggling have watched while it wasted countless billions. While it failed to deliver critical public services, housing and infrastructure.

All while giving sermons about the importance of fiscal prudence. That is the backdrop to these protests. The hypocrisy and pomposity of an out-of-touch government drove people who are at their wits’ end over the edge.

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins shakes hands with fuel protest spokesman James Geoghegan outside Leinster House yesterday. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The grim reality is that life in this country has become utterly unaffordable for an ever-increasing number of people. Pensioners spend evenings in freezing rooms, too afraid to turn the heat on. Disabled people make daily choices about whether to heat their homes or charge their mobility aids. People who work hard for long hours, missing out on time with their families, are barely scraping by.

Endlessly budgeting to try to make meagre incomes stretch further is a battle many are now losing. According to a Barnardos survey last year, 40 per cent of parents had to borrow at least once in the previous 12 months to pay for essential items for their children. These cost pressures are relentless, and they are exhausting.

For many, the increases in the price of fuel were the tipping point. Joining the protests last week was a way to express that. I do not agree with blockades of critical infrastructure. But I do understand people’s frustration – and their growing sense of desperation. Instead of recognising that last week, as protests began to swell, the government again refused to listen. A succession of senior ministers issued combative and patronising statements, which inflamed a volatile situation.

The decision of the Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to issue a statement early on Thursday morning, warning that the army was being brought in, was catastrophic. Communication throughout the week, from government, was contradictory and chaotic. Nominated leaders of the protest were given the impression, after speaking with government backbenchers, that they were welcome at a meeting on Friday afternoon.

John Dallon and a small group of other nominated spokespeople for protesters had arrived for talks last week, but were turned away at the door. The Journal The Journal

The Taoiseach, in an interview just before that meeting took place, suggested he would have no difficulty if they were there. In the event, they turned up to the Department of Agriculture, only to be turned away at the door. The government seemed incapable of even organising a guest list for their own meeting. 

This week, instead of reflecting on their complete mishandling of the situation, the government is engaged in a bitter blame game – pointing fingers at everyone except themselves. Communications Minister Patrick O’Donovan has even tried to blame the media, announcing authoritarian plans for a review of the media coverage, which he has no power to make under law. That suggestion was so transparently desperate that it had to swiftly be shot down by Tánaiste Simon Harris.

Minister for Communities, Media and Sport Patrick O'Donovan caused outrage by suggesting media coverage of protests should be examined. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

We all know that these latest price shocks are not the fault of this government. However, the disproportionate impact that is being felt in this country certainly is. That is the result of political choices made by this government. A political choice to cut the incomes of disabled people by up to 1,400 in the recent budget. A political choice to sit back while 315,000 households go into arrears on their electricity bills. A political choice to not sufficiently invest in the rollout of, and access to, renewable energy. That is a failure of vision – and that failure is the government’s alone.

We at the Social Democrats have a different vision – and a plan to provide real support for people through this difficult time. The Dáil will be debating some of those plans this morning. We want to see the introduction of a targeted €400 energy credit, which would be paid to those low and middle income earners who are really struggling. We want to see the adoption of our ‘Solar for All’ plan, which would double grants for solar panel installation to €3,600 and make them free for households most at risk of fuel poverty. We want to see the creation of a supplementary mileage scheme for essential workers because nurses and carers should be able to do their vital work without worrying about spiralling fuel costs.

These are all targeted and affordable measures that could be introduced swiftly and make a real and lasting difference to people. That is what we need. Instead, we get more half measures from a government that is out of time and out of ideas.

The protests we saw last week were a symptom of a larger problem. This Government has squandered record surpluses and failed to make life affordable. Failed to plan for our energy future and failed to listen.

People deserve better. That is why we have no confidence in this government.

Gary Gannon is the Social Democrat TD for Dublin Central and the party’s Justice Spokesperson.

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