Taoiseach tells Mary Lou McDonald to 'cop on' as Sinn Fein leader says 'I don't need you to mansplain the economy to me' in Dail row

"People are scared because they know they simply cannot afford another winter like the last one"

"We need to be upfront with people here, and so the bottom line for us is that we have targeted resources at those most in need"

"Please. Sorry, in terms of where it was, it's coming down. Cop on."

Mary Lou McDonald demanded restoration of energy credits as temperatures plummet and households face rising energy costs. She warned that 'People are scared because they know they simply cannot afford another winter like the last one.' The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, replied that inflation is coming down and told her to 'cop on' during a testy Dáil exchange. He said that the government has targeted resources at those most in need: 'We need to be upfront with people here, and so the bottom line for us is that we have targeted resources at those most in need.'

Read at Irish Independent