SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald and Taoiseach Micheál Martin clashed in the Dáil earlier today over the restoration of energy credits.

During the testy exchange between the two party leaders, Martin told McDonald to to “cop on” while the Sinn Féin leader told Martin:

“I don’t need you to mansplain the economy to me.”

McDonald told the Dáil that families are in fear over what energy bills will be landing in through their doors this winter.

She called for the restoration of energy credits due to the plummeting temperatures forecast.

“All the bragging in the world from you will not change the fact that a quarter of a million people will turn to the St Vincent de Paul this year,” she said.

“I don’t need you to mansplain the economy to me,” she added, saying she knew the people she represented in her constituency are finding it impossible to make ends meet.

Martin shot back:

“We don’t need lectures from you in terms of who you represent, or who we represent. The people on this side of the benches came from working-class backgrounds and they got elected because they’re in touch with people and they understand the realities. So stop that sort of pretense.”

He went on to state that Sinn Féin want to support those on very high income with energy credits.

“We decided not to do it. You want to give energy credits to everybody, irrespective of income, millionaires, people on 200 grand, you want to give them an energy credit,” said Martin, who told the Dáil that government chose targeted measures.