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

A new chapter of recovery and prosperity was expected after Covid in Europe. The inflationary pressure caused by the European Central Bank’s money-printing over the past two years, the policy move towards eliminating fossil fuels without first having alternatives in place and Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine have put paid to that. Spain recently approved an emergency package to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the Ukraine war, mobilising €16 billion in public funds, including €6 billion in direct support and tax reductions. Here in Ireland, the supports being offered are weak, patchy and completely insufficient. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are allowing the Green Party to dictate their senseless green policies, which are damaging the economy and crippling families. These policies are now the leading cause of inflationary pressure in Ireland. The refusal to slash energy taxes and scrap the carbon tax means that Irish consumers are being fleeced by Government-induced energy taxes in the middle of an energy crisis. It is cold and calculated that the Government continues to refuse to address this issue, which has now become the elephant in the room. My colleagues and I tabled a motion two weeks ago to axe the carbon tax. The Government pursued it full on, imposing more pain on the Irish people.

All over the country, we are discussing rising energy costs, which are having a major impact on Irish agriculture and the agri-food sector. The price of fertiliser alone is up 300%. The Government, in response, announced a paltry sum that makes no difference to the ordinary farmer. We have a Minister responsible for the marine who gave away 25% of our pelagic quota. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority above in Killybegs is sending what fish we have to make fishmeal. What is happening? Where is Europe intervening in this? Our Government cannot intervene; it cannot do anything for us.

We should consider how the funds we get from the EU are spent. Last week, there was an announcement of funding for piers from the Brexit funds. While many piers around Donegal got millions of euro, why did Keelbeg Pier, Union Hall, get nothing? The council has announced the closure of part of that pier because there is no funding. It desperately needs funding from the EU as a consequence. I am totally opposed to the announcement by the council to close part of the pier. It is a disgrace that the people of Union Hall were forgotten by the Government in last week's announcements of funds. This needs to be addressed immediately. Funding needs to be got in Europe and brought home for the pier urgently. Even more shocking, despite the fact that the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael policies, visited the pier in 2021, it got zero. I am sorry that I was not there on the day for the people of Union Hall because I would certainly have forced the Taoiseach to announce some funding for the pier. What has happened is a scandal.

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