Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is an attack on every mother and father in rural Ireland who take their children to school and work in rural Ireland. It is an attack on every farmer who is using agricultural machinery. It is an attack on every fisherman out on the high seas using fuel. It is an attack on every person who has home heating oil. It is an attack on every lorry driver delivering goods. The Government has attacked some 37% of the population of this country today. It is an absolute attack on the ordinary people of rural Ireland. I am shocked to hear an Independent Deputy, once the head of the Irish Road Haulage Association, saying she would support this. What a shame. What kind of gravy are these politicians getting? Will the Social Democrats back this? Will the Labour Party back this tonight and turn its back again on the people of rural Ireland? Any Deputy in Cork South-West who backs this is hammering extra taxes and hurt on their own people and the people of the constituency. I will not support this in any shape or form.

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