Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

If we are interested in talking about climate change, the first thing we should be doing, as a minimum requisite, is saying to all school-going children in rural Ireland or, indeed, in the cities, that there is a ticket there for them. We should not have cars or the SUVs or whatever going up and down the road with one child in them. That is the first common-sense thing. It is not going to rob the bank because there is plenty of money wasted in this country. That is the first thing.

I welcome what the Tánaiste said about tax and the other measures in the budget but there are more than public service workers in rural Ireland. There are private operators, people who set up their own businesses and people working in the private sector. I understand that the tax system the Tánaiste talked about will help them but the reality of it is, with electricity over the last year, heating their homes and transport for going to work, these people are probably about €1,200 out of pocket. That is what we need to be talking about.

The Tánaiste spoke about stabilising the national herd. I want clarification on this. Will young farmers who are starting up-----

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