Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle understands rural life and her constituency. This is a three-card trick by the Greens, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. They tell us this money will be ring-fenced for projects to deal with a just transition. Just transition, my eye. Tell that to the woman trying to heat her cottage in the country, whether in Tipperary or any place, tell it to the farmer trying to cut his crop, the exporter or the lorrymen. I will be shocked if Deputy Verona Murphy supports this because she was lobbying for years with the Irish Road Haulage Association. Tell it to the contractors, Farm Contractors Ireland, to the people who are trying to get transport for their children to go to college, which we are all doing. It is shocking. To put this to the House tonight is blatant blackguarding and demonising of people in poverty, especially in rural Ireland who cannot go anywhere unless they get a taxi or drive. They have no cycle lanes and it is not safe on the roads. This will destroy taxis. What about the bus industry which is already crippled with the pandemic? How will they get back on the road again? How will lorry drivers fill up their diesel tanks? It has all gone up. It is just a cruel, mean, lean trick. I cannot believe that the Greens would pull the wool over the eyes of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

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