Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on this important matter. There will be many people in the midlands and, indeed, beyond who will look on the Government's plans around a so-called just transition away from solid fuels like peat with a fair degree of concern if not downright alarm. I hope that whatever the plans for an early exit from peat for electricity generation that they will benefit the ordinary people on the ground who have spent their lives generating peat from the bogs.

We should not forget that since the Minister for Finance introduced a solid fuel carbon tax in May 2013, that enormous sums have been accumulated. We know that last year alone, the solid fuel carbon tax took in €25 million. Between 2013 and 2017 the solid fuel carbon tax raised €72 million on top of the €25 million from 2018. Where has all that money gone? That is just under €100 million from this tax alone, to say nothing of the additional amounts generated by the tax on gas, kerosene or petrol. I want firm assurances that this money will be pumped back into the communities most directly impacted by the Government's plans relating to peat and peat extraction from bogs.

I welcome the workers here this evening. Bord na Móna management has had plenty of time to consider different, innovative methods as they knew this was coming. They have been found very lacking. We cannot depend on the Government. We cannot depend on it for anything in rural Ireland; all it does is attack us and take stuff away from us. If it would leave us alone, we would be happy and carry on left to our own devices. I made my way down to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach to try to mitigate the carbon tax being put on small farmers and on fuel for contractors but the Government voted down my amendments. The Government does not care about anything outside the Pale. It is just posh boys and girls. I am surprised at presence of Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, who is from Offaly. She is sitting beside the Minister, Deputy Bruton. I know that his wife is from Clonmel but other than that he knows nothing about rural Ireland and he does not care about it. The Government's policy is one of to hell or Connaught. It is as bad as Cromwell.

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