Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government did not make this decision relating to Electric Ireland, as Deputy knows well. It is not correct for the Government to interfere with every regulator come hell or high water. We will do everything we can, as we have, in an historic and unprecedented way, to support people in difficulty. That is the Government's objective as we go through an unprecedented global pandemic. The State intervention measures that have been adopted have been extraordinary, which should be acknowledged. I have outlined some and there are many more. The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, along with the leaders of the three parties which make up the Government, constantly monitor the economic impact of the pandemic and how we can live with it for the foreseeable future through to 2021 in health, education and also economic activity. That involves climate change. We do not want to pull back from our commitment to the agenda around climate change. The Deputy may wish us to do so but we have a comprehensive view that part of the economic rejuvenation of the country is in a green new deal. That has to happen. It will create new jobs and opportunities in renewable energy and other areas. We need to get on with that. We cannot keep resiling from it.

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