Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am afraid the Minister's understanding of a just transition is very different from mine and that of many other people. He kicked up a hullabaloo a number of weeks ago regarding the sale of turf. Given the small volume of turf being sold in the country, that he prioritised it in such a way hurt many people in my county, Kerry, where many people have traditionally cut turf over the years to keep themselves warm.

In a way, I have to thank the Minister. Many people realise there is trouble afoot and that fuel and heating oil is getting very expensive, and they have gone back to the bogs this year because they do not want to be cold on Christmas night or to have nothing in the hearth to keep themselves warm. Many of them, therefore, have returned to cutting turf. If the Minister left people alone, the practice would die out in any event because the next generation, or perhaps the generation after that, would not cut any turf. Instead, he is trying to force people into electric cars, without sufficient infrastructure, and closing Bord na Móna. Every day since that began, the cost of electricity has increased. The Government has no alternative in place.

As for the retrofitting scheme, the Government is offering grants of €25,000 when people do not have the matching money to come up with €25,000 or €30,000 more. Elderly people have only so much time on their side and the Government could give smaller grants for insulation, yet they say they are denied that. If they have ever got so much as €300 or €400 in the past 20 years by way of a grant, they will be ruled out of getting any grants now. Likewise, carbon tax has no effect on the circumstances in which we find ourselves and only hurts people.

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