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

The reality of the crazy decisions that this Government has taken is hitting home with people now. With the whole energy issue we have, the fact is that people are facing a winter where a bag of coal could possibly cost €45 or maybe even €50. The Government should not be telling people to go and retrofit their homes. These people do not have €20,000, €30,000 or €40,000 underneath the bed to produce before they can avail of the grant that is being provided. There is a craziness to what the Government has done. I have heard people today, for example, in the Labour Party, giving out about the cost of living when they are after blindly voting for carbon taxes. To be honest, there were people around this Chamber who said the Government was not going far enough, fast enough. Where are they now? What are they going to tell the people in their constituencies? They all voted for increased taxes. Now is the time that there should be no increased taxes because people need to pay their ESB bills to keep the lights on. There are disabled, vulnerable and older people who are really fearful now of the bills that are coming in the post. They cannot afford to fill oil tanks because of the cost. They are worried about the price. Even a drum of gas to work a gas cooker is expensive. These people are really struggling. The Government and those who support it and have supported it, including Opposition Members, have done this. We cannot let them be forgotten about because they blindly supported the Government. It is crazy.

See this speech in context