Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Bruton has a brass neck. He was part of the Government that encouraged dairy farmers to increase their herds only a few short years ago. Now, many of those dairy farmers are being told they are the cause of much of the emissions. It is not right, proper or in any way acceptable. The Government seems to think the electorate has a short memory, but it will get its answers on the door in rural Ireland, because it is constantly punishing them for a fantasy aspiration that is totally detached from any reality or logic. That is my view and the view of many of my constituents in Laois-Offaly, which has been decimated by ideology that is not connected to any sort of reality. No alternatives are put in place. An unfair and unjust transition is imposed on my constitutions and no job alternatives.

The Government closed power plants, such as in Shannonbridge and Lanesborough, County Longford, and now we are faced with electricity blackouts. What sort of logic prevails? Is there any common sense in Government? What it is doing to people is unfair and beyond belief, in that it is imposing terrible hardship on people. My county of Offaly will experience 53% of the job losses, because of an unjust transition. We were told we had until 2030 to transition and then that was sped up. Deputy Bruton comes in here and seems to think that is acceptable. From where I and my constituents who are suffering are coming, it is not acceptable. It will never be acceptable and it is high time this Government woke up, because the policies are extreme and radical and we need common sense. I urgently call on the Government to make sure it reopens the power plants at Shannonbridge and Lanesborough. This Government is dragging us back to the Dark Ages. We will not even basic electricity.

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