Michael Lowry
Tipperary North · Independent · Ireland
“Independents supporting the Government helped to shape last year’s budget, with a strong focus on protecting the most vulnerable and securing meaningful, long-term benefits. Earlier this month, the largest-ever increase in the carer's allowance income disregard took effect.”
“People living with a disability continue to face unavoidable additional costs in areas such as transport and healthcare. I welcome the cross-Government work conducted over the past year that has looked at the possibility of a permanent annual cost-of-disability payment.”
“When this Government was formed just over 18 months ago, no one could have predicted the scale of the crisis unfolding in the Middle East, the disruption it would place on global energy markets and its impact on the cost of living in Ireland and across the world. In these times, the value of a capable and stable Government became clear.”
“There is another group of people who cannot be overlooked, namely the self-employed. These people take risks, create employment and contribute significantly to the economy. The self-employed are at a disadvantage in accessing State supports and social protection.”
“Prudent management of our economy is the cornerstone of good government. While people are struggling with the cost of living, they are further infuriated to see public money wasted. This squandering of taxpayers' money is evident across all Departments, State agencies and local authorities.”
“In a moment of global instability, when we need responsibility, unity and a collective effort, Sinn Féin has chosen division, disruption and political opportunism. To bring down a Government at a time like this would have far-reaching consequences for the Irish people.”
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“Emergency responders have frequently spoken out about the heartless behaviour of onlookers who turn tragedy into a clickbait opportunity. It is not only incidents like this that find their way into the public domain. Violent brawls, racist attacks, abusive actions and bullying are also considered fair game for recording. Blackmail is commonly used to threaten the victims, who live in fear of the content being made public or being sent to families or authorities. The grief and torment that these threats can cause is incalculable. Many victims are blackmailed for money. Others are coerced into illegal or unsavoury actions in order to buy the silence of their tormentors. Either way, the holder of the recording holds the trump card and the victim is rendered powerless to escape his or her clutches.”
“We have all read of the heartache endured by a mother in Cork last week as she witnessed people callously filming her son's final moments. I extend sympathy to this woman and her family at this sad and extremely difficult time. Unfortunately, this mother is not the first to feel such horror. Families right across the country have also been subjected to similar pitiful actions. It has become common for people to record tragic events for the sole purpose of sharing or threatening to share them on social media. Victims of road tragedies, injured persons, those suffering shock and distress, and people crying for help have all had their anguish and fear reduced to public online spectacle. Misfortunes are reduced to grotesque entertainment.”