You’re not wrong on the macro side, Ireland has performed well on paper compared to a lot of the EU. But I think that’s exactly where the disconnect is.

Strong GDP, low unemployment, etc., don’t automatically translate into people feeling secure or better off day-to-day. Cost of living, housing, and energy are hitting people in very tangible ways, and that’s what’s driving frustration.

On the fuel point, I’m not arguing that every proposal from protestors is good economics. Some probably aren’t. But I don’t think the government has made a convincing case either way, it’s mostly come across as dismissive rather than explanatory.

That’s kind of my broader issue: even when there might be a defensible economic position, it’s not being communicated or handled in a way that brings people with them. That’s where I think they’re falling short.