Paul Murphy: Government Scared of the People
Paul Murphy tells the Dail the government is 'scared of the people' after a parliamentary episode over cost-of-living measures, arguing a two-month pause on petrol and diesel is inadequate. He links the worsening crisis to international events and sets out demands including price controls, electricity credits and a levy on data centres.
Paul Murphy says the only reason ministers acted was fear of widespread protests and describes the announced two-month stay on petrol and diesel as a limited, ineffective response to a broad cost-of-living crisis.
Murphy reiterates long-standing calls for price controls, universal electricity credits funded by a levy on data centres, and urgent investment in a rapid and just transition to a zero-carbon economy to end reliance on fossil fuels.
He argues that protest is the necessary pressure that will force government action and warns that there will be substantial demonstrations, highlighting the Affordable Ireland mobilisation scheduled for Saturday 19 September.
Murphy urges that the upcoming budget in one of the richest countries in the world must protect ordinary people rather than make life harder, and frames the September mobilisation as a test of that demand.
Main claim
Paul Murphy says the only reason ministers acted was fear of widespread protests and describes the announced two-month stay on petrol and diesel as a limited, ineffective response to a broad cost-of-living crisis.
Policy demands
Murphy reiterates long-standing calls for price controls, universal electricity credits funded by a levy on data centres, and urgent investment in a rapid and just transition to a zero-carbon economy to end reliance on fossil fuels.
Role of protest
He argues that protest is the necessary pressure that will force government action and warns that there will be substantial demonstrations, highlighting the Affordable Ireland mobilisation scheduled for Saturday 19 September.
Budget warning
Murphy urges that the upcoming budget in one of the richest countries in the world must protect ordinary people rather than make life harder, and frames the September mobilisation as a test of that demand.
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Transcript
Thanks Ciann Comhairle. There's one lesson for me from today's farce and it's that the government is scared of the people. The only reason that we are here today is because the government is scared of widespread protests about the cost of living crisis. And so in response we have a two month stay of execution for petrol and diesel alone. Completely inadequate. When the cost of living crisis that is driven by Trump's imperialist adventures in the Middle East is worsening for working people right across the board. What people want, what people need is certainty, is security, is stability. It's something that could easily be provided. I mean we have been calling now for price controls for years and years and years. That is what is necessary. It needs to be combined with universal electricity credits paid for by a levy on the data centres and investment in a rapid and just transition to a zero carbon economy to get off our addiction and reliance on fossil fuels. But the only way to force the government to act is the threat of protest and protest itself. And I would say to the government there will be protest. There will be substantial protest. On Saturday the 19th of September the Affordable Ireland campaign will be mobilising significant numbers to say that the budget that is coming up must not, in one of the richest countries in the world, must not make life harder for ordinary people. Instead the budget should be protecting people.