Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted with the Minister's appointment. I wish him well in his portfolio and look forward to working with him. Tús maith leath na hoibre. He has rejected these amendments. Deputy Naughten's amendments are very wisely thought out. He understands this area because he was in the Minister's seat. I thank him for all of the engagement he had with us when he was in office. I hope all Ministers will engage with the different groupings and all Deputies in Dáil because we are elected to this House for a good reason, namely, to look after the public and all of the issues, including climate.

A lot of money has been collected in recent years from schemes, such as the €209 million collected from the public service obligation, PSO, levy. A lot of carbon tax has been collected. People have been taxed and taxed but have seen no tangible benefits. That is why I am worried that the Bill will mean more taxes being imposed on the same people, especially those in rural Ireland. Some of the major projects that have been earmarked are city based. I have nothing against cities, but if people are paying taxes we need to bring them with us. Ní neart go cur le chéile.

Daoine óga, young people, in particular, have shown they are interested, worried and concerned but the farming community cannot be scapegoated. Deputy Naughten is right about planting huge swathes of land because once the land, which could be good land, is planted - I have seen this happen close to where I live - it is very hard to return it to arable land even after harvesting 40 years later.

I heard an excellent programme, "CountryWide", on the radio on Saturday morning. Deputy Naughten might know the family who were on the programme because they were from Roscommon. They had a wonderful concept. They were doing an amount of work for biodiversity. It was a mixed enterprise or farm with some trees and briars, bushes, holly and ivy. The land naturally developed. They also had sheep which grazed on garlic and herbs and they said the butcher was always seeking their lambs. That is a way to ensure farm to fork and to ensure people want quality assured meat. People vote with their feet when they go to buy it. It was a wonderful enterprise.

I am disappointed that it is going this way, especially with a majority Government. We saw this at the Business Committee today and we see it at the Dáil reform committee. The Minister has to get support, involvement and acceptance for these green concepts. It has always been the Minister's thing, and fair dues to him, but he must bring people with him in respect of the Bill. He is not willing to accept amendments. He said the Bill is rushed but every piece of legislation we have done in this term has been rushed. Perhaps we should leave some of it until we come back after the recess in six weeks' time and get it right. At the Business Committee this morning, we gave permission to waive pre-legislative scrutiny on a number of Bills. No committees have been set up to discuss legislation. We saw that happen yesterday when I was in the Chair. It was difficult because we had not had the committee debate and we ran into huge problems. Legislation that is rushed is poor legislation. I appeal to the Minister to get down and dirty with the Deputies, accept some of the amendments and try to engage with Deputies. Promising that there will be another Bill in which he might involve them or on which he might engage with them is not the same thing. We must start as we mean to go on. The Minister must accept amendments. We are all trying to make it better for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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