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

The introduction of carbon tax to this country has been one of the biggest robberies carried out by white-collar people in this island. Everything the Rural Independent Group said when it was introduced has come true. We said it would price car fuel and home heating oil through the roof, and it did. We said electricity bills would go through the roof, and they have. There is so more - I could go on for the day.

What saddens me is that it was a Green Party dream to grab this money from the rural people for their little pet projects, mainly in our capital. They were aided and abetted by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and a few nod-and-wink independents. Even then we were making it very clear that this would hurt hard-working people, mainly in rural areas but also urban areas. One cock-up after another has been announced by the Green Party as it dishes out the carbon tax money on its pet projects, such as €2.4 million on three electric buses in the capital, while rural areas are seeing poorer public transport delivery as Connecting Ireland is turning out to be disconnecting Ireland. Some 20% delivery and a proposed 50% decrease in public transport cost for our youth is now only being delivered in the capital, as rural commercial operators cannot deliver it outside the capital. It is another farce and kick in the teeth to those who within their parties support the carbon tax.

Sinn Féin Deputies come into the Dáil day after day shouting against any carbon tax increases. However, they wrapped their arms around the Green Party the first day and voted for the increase. They should stop running with the hare and chasing with the hound. They cannot have everything. Sinn Féin is either for carbon tax or against it. When it supports it, it must accept that it will inflict huge pain on the ordinary people of this country. Sinn Féin Deputies should now come out and accept their errors by supporting the Rural Independent Group.

People are suffering severely because of the Government's decisions. They are in their homes, unable to turn on their heating because they cannot afford to do so.

Our elderly, our youth and the sick will all perish with the cold in their homes this winter thanks to the Government supporting this shocking tax, which has been disguised in the name of so-called climate change. You cannot buy a bag of coal with the price of it in this country. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, aided and abetted by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, will not allow us to buy a bag of turf now. Next, it will be a bit of timber.

All I am listening to on the radio and in the Dáil is waffle. Last Saturday morning, RTÉ had an expert on who was more like a comedian. He said that burning wet turf was bad for the environment. What in God's name is wrong with the man? No one in rural Ireland ever burned wet turf. In God's name, why do the television stations not have people on who know what they are talking about? I could not believe my ears last night when I heard a Deputy say we should be mining turf. If he was in a Popeye comedy sketch, he would not come up with that kind of comment. Another Deputy from the same party falls over herself at every opportunity to shout down fossil fuels. I see her driving a diesel-guzzling van every day coming and going from the Dáil. It is the same with so many other Deputies. They say one thing and do another. They expect that people will not see and think they will get away with it.

The Rural Independent Group is the only group the public can rely on. In a recent poll I carried out in the constituency of Cork South-West, I asked my constituents if carbon tax should continue. An emphatic 85% said "No way". It was a straight "Yes" or "No" poll, but many went on to vent their anger and the reasons this cruel and hurtful tax should be stopped. I promise that 85% of the people of west Cork that I will fight tooth and nail to get rid of the carbon tax, lock, stock and barrel. Imagine the promise that was made in the Dáil for its introduction. Now we see carbon tax raking in €652 million in 2021. Only €130 million of that was ring-fenced. The rest went into the big black hole that is our Government. We want to know where the rest of this money is and why it has it not gone to the climate action Government Deputies are shouting about, rather than wind projects in their constituencies so they can get themselves across the line in the next election. You will not succeed because the people are waiting out there for you, lads.

Imagine our Taoiseach went to Europe a few weeks ago to get a so-called VAT reduction on fuel only for the other European leaders to hear that he came back here and proposed an increase in the carbon tax on fuel so the Government can grab more tax again from the most vulnerable in our society. Look at the haulage companies, farmers, contractors and boat owners. There all see that the most valuable machines they have on their properties are the tractor, lorry or boat that is parked up.

For some time, I have been saying that the Government has been grinding this great country to a halt as it has destroyed our great economy. Some farm contractors are facing wipeout. One of them, in west Cork, told me that his costs have increased by €140,000 this year. No one can sustain these hikes in costs.

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