Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I urge the Minister to think about the average working family in rural counties such as County Donegal. Such a family typically has a car that is six, seven or eight years old. Those living in Donegal who wish to travel to a job or a place of study cannot do so by public transport. As such, they must drive a car and fill it with diesel or petrol. The average family in such areas cannot afford an electric car. God forbid. It is just out of reach. Even if they could afford such a car, it would not be practical because of the infrastructure in Donegal. The Government is penalising people who do not have an alternative.

Many people whose home is heated by oil, coal or turf do not have the money to retrofit their home, such as by installing solar panels. In this case, the Government is again penalising people who do not have an alternative. The objective which the Government wishes to achieve is not affordable, so it is penalising people who cannot afford it. The people who will benefit from the increase are the wealthier in society.

This is an ill-thought out and lazy policy. The Government could go after the heavy polluters in society but it is not doing so in an effective way. Any representative of rural Ireland worth their salt who looks at the full spectrum of options available to people in rural Ireland must oppose this proposition. It is a no-brainer for a representative of rural Ireland to oppose this financial resolution.

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