Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá géarchéim costas maireachtála ar fud na tíre. Tá billí fuinnimh ag dul in airde agus ag cur fíor-bhrú ar oibrithe agus ar theaghlaigh ar fud an Stáit. Aréir, vótáil an Rialtas in éadan moladh de chuid Shinn Féin a thabharfadh faoiseamh dáiríre do theaghlaigh trí chostas ola teasa baile a laghdú agus cosc a chur ar an gcáin charbóin a mhéadú ón tseachtain seo chugainn. Mar pháirt den mholadh a chuir muid chun tosaigh, d’iarr muid ar an Rialtas deireadh a chur leis an gcosc atá molta ag an Aire é féin ar dhíol móna ón 1 Meán Fómhair. In ainneoin an tabhairt amach ó Theachtaí Fhianna Fáil agus Fine Gael, vótáil siad leis an Aire agus lena pháirtí aréir. Tá siad sásta dul ar an raidió agus labhairt leis na nuachtáin áitiúla ach nuair a thagann sé go dtí an pointe agus go dtí an vóta, titeann siad ar chúl polasaithe an Aire agus polasaithe an Chomhaontais Ghlas le cosc a chur ar cheannach móna.

There is a real cost-of-living crisis all across the country, as energy bills have skyrocketed. It is putting real pressure on workers and families throughout this State. Last night, the Government rejected a Sinn Féin motion that would have given real relief to households. It would have reduced the cost of home heating oil and prevented the Government from increasing it by imposing additional carbon taxes, as it plans to do on Sunday. We also sought to prevent the Government’s proposed ban on selling turf from 1 September. Despite the huffing and puffing from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil Ministers and backbenchers, they dutifully rolled in behind the Minister and his party last night to prevent sense prevailing. I must say there is a notable absence of those huffing and puffing Deputies in the Chamber this morning. They are happy to go on local radio and give quotes to local newspapers but when push comes to shove they fall into line with the Green Party and its out-of-touch proposals in respect of home heating oil and carbon tax. It is political cowardice of the highest order.

Turf has been one of the only forms of heating not to see prices spiral in recent months, yet the Government still plans to punish individuals and communities who rely on turf from September. Instead of introducing measures to support communities in transitioning away from this form of heating in a way that is fair and sustainable, the Minister plans a ban. Ill thought-out policies like this proposal damage environmental protection because they alienate communities. We know that the days of fossil fuels are coming to an end. All of us in this House recognise the need for climate action. However, the way the Government is doing it is causing deep anger, upset and resentment in communities right across the State.

The Minister should not naively believe that a ban on turf is a solution because it is not. Across the State, 4% of households rely on burning turf as the main energy source to heat their homes. That figure rises to 9% in rural communities and in some counties it is over 30%. These communities need to be supported instead of facing the punishment the Minister is dishing out when there is no realistic alternative for them to heat their homes and keep their families warm and safe. Where is the just transition in telling these households who rely on burning turf as the main source of heating their homes that it is to be banned from September of this year? After weeks of chaos, confusion and contradiction, what is the Minister's position on the turf ban? Does he now accept that the turf ban idea was daft and needs to be ditched?

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