Government's 'clear repeated promises' have been 'broken', says Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty said: 'I put it to you Simon, sensible Simon. How did you break all of these promises?' File photo: SAM BOAL/Collins Photos

The Government has been accused of breaking its election promises to the public and taking money out of their pockets, the Dáil has heard.

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty criticised Tánaiste Simon Harris over the Government’s budget, saying it had left ordinary workers behind. He mocked Mr Harris in the chamber, citing a report in the Irish Daily Mail where the finance minister described himself as “sensible Simon”.

“For workers, for families, for carers, for students listening today, that claim collapses when measured against the promises you made and the promises you then broke,” Mr Doherty said. 

The Sinn Féin finance spokesperson listed promises made during the general election, including income tax cuts, falling energy bills and the abolition of student fees. Mr Doherty said the Government did not deliver on these promises, citing higher energy bills for consumers and increased student fees compared to 2024.

“These aren’t minor oversights. They are clear repeated promises by you and each of one of them is broken,” he said. He added money was found in October’s budget for tax breaks for banks and developers, while individuals were left worse off.

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Mr Harris denied the Government had broken its election promises.

“You suggest that everything that’s said during an election and in a Programme for Government must be implemented immediately. The people of Ireland aren’t stupid, they understand. That’s obviously not how the Programme for Government works.”

Mr Harris said the  Programme for Government provides for measures that will be introduced over five years. “We have only delivered budget one of five, and you’ll be pleased to know there’ll be another four.”

The Fine Gael leader highlighted a number of measures taken by the Government in October’s budget, including expanding the fuel allowance, domiciliary care allowance and providing a social welfare Christmas bonus.

He said the Government had moved on childcare, with the publication of the Department of Children’s National Development Plan, with funding allocated to develop State-led childcare facilities.

Mr Doherty said ESRI research highlighted October’s budget would lead to income losses “across the board”, particularly for low-income households.

Mr Doherty asked:

I put it to you Simon, sensible Simon. How did you break all of these promises? 

“You promise tax cuts every year to workers. There's no tax cuts in this budget here.”

He added students are paying €500 more in student fees compared to 2024.

However, the Tánaiste said while there could be a debate on the use of the word sensible, “no one will ever call you prudent Pearse”.

Mr Harris said Mr Doherty had “some cheek” to raise college fees, when Sinn Féin’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill posted on social media that the party had frozen fees in Northern Ireland at £4,855 per year.

“You are hypocrites. You are phony and your faux outrage angry Pearse doesn’t convince anybody,” he said.