After the events of last night, the Government has only a paper-thin majority and is significantly more vulnerable to pressure. I am of the view that pressure will grow from working people hard-hit by the cost of living crisis. Bus Éireann workers have been threatened with a two-year pay freeze and are not going to wear it. Medical scientists have been underpaid for years and they are not going to take it anymore. Some 87% of Bausch + Lomb workers in Waterford voted for strike action to reverse a pay cut.

With interest rates set to rise and big increases in mortgage payments on the way, I hope today's cost-of-living protest will be just the start and more workers will begin to fight back. What is needed is an Opposition that does not just put pressure on the Government in the House but which helps fan the flames of workers' opposition, which could hasten the end of this Government. Sinn Féin should take note of that. I will conclude with a question. Does the Tánaiste concur that if the mood of discontent hardens among working people, Deputies Hourigan and Costello might be the least of the Government's worries come the autumn?

The Deputy can rest assured that the Government still has a majority in the Dáil and a substantial majority in the Seanad. As he pointed out, there is little or no evidence that the Opposition parties would be able to come together to form an alternative Government. You do not need an election to form an alternative Government. The parties opposite could have formed a left-wing Government two years ago but they decided not to. The position in that regard has not changed.

The Government will address the matters raised by the Deputy, work on them and do the best it can to protect people's living standards. That is the job of the Government. We need to do this in a sensible way and in a way that does not drive up inflation. We cannot do it with borrowed money. This is the approach we will take. I echo the comments of Deputy Cowen on "Morning Ireland" earlier when he said that some of the best Governments this country ever had were minority Governments. I had the privilege to lead one for three years. I do not believe we will get into that scenario, but people need not fear an election any time soon.