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

I welcome any help for businesses through the EWSS and the CRSS. Businesses suffered hugely through the Covid crisis, not knowing from one moment to the next what restrictions were being put in place or when they would be enacted. The Government kept us all hanging in this regard, although it leaked any announcements to the press days before they were made.

We have gone from Brexit to the Covid crisis and now to a war and, again, the Government is coming out with all kinds of rubbish. Last week, our group put in a motion calling for a mini-budget, which we ended up having last night. Our proposal was aimed at easing the suffering of the people who put us in our jobs. The Minister of State should not forget they also put him in his job. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, had the audacity to stand up here and slate each and every one of us. Now it is my turn to slate him. How much has the national children's hospital gone over budget? We were rightly calling it the hole in the ground at one stage, with a budget overspend of millions of euro and a site on which a helicopter cannot be landed. The Minister badly needs to close his mouth and listen to those who understand the suffering people are going through. The Green Party tail is wagging the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael dog. The Minister has not a notion of what real life is like for people. He stood here last week and tried to assassinate our characters. In fact, he made a complete fool of himself as he persisted in refusing our request for a lowering of fuel prices.

This Bill provides for the Covid-19 recognition payment for healthcare workers, which will not be subject to tax. I am surprised the Minister is not taxing it but he surely will be getting the money at the pumps in any case. As a colleague said this morning, he is taxing the tax on fuel.

People working in the healthcare system want to know when they will get their €1,000. The Minister might also clarify that.

The Bill also provides for the tax treatment of payments made under the proposed Brexit whitefish fleet decommissioning scheme. Let us be honest: the only reason this scheme is being introduced is the Government, including the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, sold out our fishermen in the Brexit quota negotiations. The Government has completely betrayed the fishing sector, with a total quota loss of approximately €43 million per year. In overall terms, the Government now wants to decommission a large proportion of the Irish fleet to allow foreign-owned vessels to fish for our stock off our coasts. Yes, lads, we are giving it away to other countries while our Irish boys are being told to decommission. Well done. It is another rotten deal for the people of Ireland. It is just like farmers and others in the agriculture sector are being treated.

Just in case the Minister does not know, because he and his Government are so far removed from reality, there was a fisherman on the radio the other day who, instead of heading out fishing this week, tied up his boat. I will tell the Minister why: it would have cost him €30,000 in fuel to catch a €27,000 quota, which is what he was allowed to fish for. He would have lost €3,000 had he gone out during the week. That is not taking into account the cost of staff and other expenses. It might have cost him €15,000 to €20,000 to go out.

The country is grinding to a halt and the Government is sound asleep at the wheel. It has not got a clue. I am shocked at its councillors. I am shocked that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors - forget about the Green Party councillors because they are not with it - are not roaring and shouting on the ground seeing as their Deputies are out of touch and completely in la-la land. Surely be to God the councillors are somewhat in touch with those on the ground but maybe they are not. I am beginning to think they are not.

This Bill is supposed to help businesses that have suffered throughout the pandemic but the Government’s carry-on will put the final nail in the coffin. The Government is telling us it will reduce the cost of fuel by 15 cent and 20 cent a litre, and 2 cent a litre for the farm industry. Imagine, 2 cent for the farm industry. There is to be nothing at all for those who are trying to heat their homes. How is this going to help? We all know the price of fuel is rising rapidly. The Government has had its chance. We have given it months. For months, we pleaded with it not to introduce the carbon tax and to push it aside or out the door, but it laughed across the way.

The advice of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is to slow down when driving. I think he told people today that this would save fuel. My God, has the Government any understanding of the number of emails being received and the amount of anger? The country is on the verge of an absolute revolution and the Government sits idly by, quite happy to let it happen. It shames politics because politicians should be available to work for and help their people. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have failed. Forget the Greens because they do not care and that is their agenda. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have worked their way into their agenda.

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