Government have a lot to answer for

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy.

We recently marked one year since the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independent TDs came to office. It has been a year marked by broken promises and failures. For many people life has got tougher. The cost-of-living crisis has deepened as grocery prices, rent, fuel costs and energy costs have increased. The housing crisis has resulted in a continuous stream of young people leaving the country as they feel they have no other options left.

Throughout 2025 Sinn Féin worked hard to hold the government to account - on the cost of living, on housing, on special needs education and on the scandals within our health system including in the treatment of children with scoliosis.

We worked with others in opposition to show that an alternative is possible. The campaign to elect Catherine Connolly showed what can be done when we work together.

Earlier this year, I was happy to see the family of Shane O’Farrell receive the state apology that they deserved and to see the review of bail laws prompted by the campaigning of Shane’s mother Lucia, published. Legislative change must now be delivered without delay.

In May, I was honoured to have been appointed as Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration. I have made it my priority to put the voices of ordinary people, particularly those campaigning for justice, at the centre of the work of that committee .

Highlights include the recommendation of the committee to call for a full ban on the use of counselling notes in sexual violence trials and the decision of the committee in its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the international protection Bill asked that consideration be again given to opting out of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact because that pact does not take cognisance of the fact we operate within a common travel area. The government has been rightfully under increasing pressure throughout 2025 for their failure to manage immigration especially in respect of the international protection system including the length of time it is taking to process application and the failure to enforce deportations.

In November, I was delighted that legislation, which I brought forward having worked with survivors of sexual violence, passed second stage in the Dáil. I am hopeful the at the Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill will become law in 2026.

As I look to 2026, I believe that we will start to see real movement towards making Irish unity a reality. With every passing day it becomes clear that, not only is a United Ireland our historic destiny as a nation, it is in the best interest of all people North and South.

We all need to work together and to work harder to advance a United Ireland and to hasten the day when we remove this incompetent Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government.