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

I am here today to speak about the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. I will be very clear with the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, that if the amendments we will table are not accepted - that would work in rural Ireland - I will not support the Bill as it currently stands. It is an attack on the people of rural Ireland and agriculture.

I am shocked by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Deputies. I know they bought into power, but it should not come at a price to the people who put them there, who supported them to get a seat in Dáil Éireann and to stand up here. They will sell their soul for that seat. That is a sad reflection on politics and on this piece of work they have done.

The Government is in place for 12 months already. We will table amendments to the Bill. I see no difference in the situation whereby there is raw sewage in Castletownshend, in Goleen in west Cork, in Belgooly or not even an extension to the sewerage scheme in Ballinspittle. Nothing is happening. The parties are in government, shoving on taxes. We had a carbon tax over the weekend which was an absolute attack on rural Ireland. I put something up on social media about it and I was stunned at the reaction. People are furious. The cost of home heating oil has gone through the roof. The cost of living has gone up. People must drive cars to take their children to school, thanks to the Green Party, backed by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil who pat them on the back-----

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