Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Central Bank has estimated that inflation will hit 10% next month and much of that, as we have just heard, has been driven by soaring energy costs. Many families will be simply unable to heat their homes come the autumn. They are in despair with worry as to how they will make ends meet. It is in that context that I have to say that it is bizarre that the Minister next week plans to bring forward, according to his previous remark, proposals to ban the sale of turf, considering that such a ban would remove the only viable source of heating for many families. Does the Minister not recognise how hare-brained a proposal that is at this time, considering that people want and need Government to wise up and bring forward proposals that will support them, rather than making their lives even harder?

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