Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald calls for resumption of energy credits amid fiery clashes in Dáil

Mary Lou McDonald pushed the Government at Leaders' Questions to restore energy credits, saying 'people are scared because they simply cannot afford another winter like the last one'.

The Taoiseach has told the Sinn Féin leader to "cop on" as she told him not to "mansplain the economy" to her in fiery clashes in the Dáil.

Mary Lou McDonald pushed the Government at Leaders' Questions to restore energy credits, saying "people are scared because they simply cannot afford another winter like the last one".

Ms McDonald said one person had written to her office saying: "We got our autumn gas bill. It was €275. The heating had barely been on. 

"We paid just under €20 in VAT, €20 in carbon tax and a standing charge of around the same, all totalling €59.80. The next gas bill will be double that as the weather has changed. This is nearly impossible for us. It looks like we will freeze again this year. It is just survival now."

In response, Micheál Martin said "the bottom line for us in the recent budget is that we have targeted resources at those most in need". 

He said Sinn Féin's plan to resume energy credits would mean millionaires were given Government assistance.

“We decided not to do it. You want to give energy credits to everybody, irrespective of income, millionaires, people on 200 grand, you want to give them an energy credit,” said Mr Martin, who told the Dáil the Government chose targeted measures.

But Ms McDonald said the Government's analysis was out of step with organisations like St Vincent de Paul.

All of the bragging in the world from the Taoiseach does not alter the fact that 250,000 people will reach out to the Society of St Vincent de Paul for help.

"I have to tell the Taoiseach that I do not find this funny. I do not need the Taoiseach to mansplain the economy to me. I do not need him to dodge and evade a simple question. 

"I asked him about energy credits. I have set out for him the reality that people are now fearful. That people are not turning on their heat. The heart is crossways on people when they are opening their bills. That is the reality. 

"It may not land with the Taoiseach. I do not know what reality he lives in, but I know who I represent in here. I represent families that are struggling. I represent working people who are struggling and are now fearful that they cannot make their bills."

Mr Martin later clashed with Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who said the Taoiseach "cynically misled the public about how many homes would be delivered" before last year's general election and asked how many homes the Government was targeting for delivery in its lifetime.

Mr Martin said the Social Democrats leader "uses language about a 'radical reset of housing policy'".

"What in the name of God does it mean? The deputy has never put any flesh on the bone of anything she has ever proposed. She is bereft of policy. What is the radical reset? Spell it out."