Taoiseach Michéal Martin has warned of a rough winter ahead after the government survives a vote of no confidence in the Dail.
peak on RTÉ One’s Rush hour tonight Mr Martin defended the government’s track record on housing, health care and its response to the pandemic and war in Ukraine after the Dail passed a vote of no confidence by Sinn Fein by 88 to 66, with one abstention. had voted.
During a quick Q&A session with host Sarah McInerney, he said the electorate does not want a new election, stating that “many people appreciate what the government has done in the face of an unprecedented pandemic”.
He took a swipe at his critics, adding: “We are serious government. Fianna Fáil is a serious political party that believes in substance, not superficial politics or PR stunts. I think Sinn Féin is not a serious party.”
Citing the government’s response to the war in Ukraine, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, he added: “What people need at the end of September is a cost of living package that parallels the budget.
“If we had a general election now, we wouldn’t have that cost of living package, nor would we have a budget.”
Turning to the cost of living crisis, he said the government has so far allocated €2.5 billion to measures to address rising costs of energy, food and other necessities, including increases in the back-to-school rate. allowance.
But he warned that the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on energy prices and the global economy poses serious challenges in the coming months.
He defended the government’s decision to wait until the end of September before announcing the cost-of-living and budget package as a strategy that “will deliver a comprehensive package to ease the pressure – in particular to help people survive the winter.” to bring”.
“We think the winter will be very difficult… given the energy situation and the Russian approach to gas, for example, we need to look at this in the medium term.
“And I’m worried about winter,” he said of energy costs.
“We need a package that will ease the pressure on families, especially in the areas of childcare and social protection,” he said of the one-time cost-of-living package.
He added that it will not be until early spring of 2023 “until we are out of the woods on this cost of living crisis” fueled by the war in Ukraine.
However, he said the Irish economy has recovered well from the impact of the pandemic and said it “will provide a buffer for the winter period with the resources we have”.
He acknowledged that the housing crisis is “the biggest social problem facing this government” but said his government is “doing everything we can” to address the problem, which he believes remains a supply shortage problem. .
But he ruled out reinstatement of the tenant eviction ban brought under emergency legislation during the pandemic, saying it would be unconstitutional under the current circumstances.
Asked about the record number of patients on trolleys and waiting lists, he said the pandemic has and continues to have a “significant impact” on health services.