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

The crisis this country finds itself in is mainly down to bad Government decisions. The Government has gone to lengths to blame everyone but itself through this recession. The Rural Independent Group has been warning of this shocking recession coming. Instead of taking fast action, the Government has thrown gallons of petrol on the fire. The carbon tax that was heaped on the people of Ireland was completely supported by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and the usual nod-and-wink Independents. We pleaded with the Government not to go ahead with that tax, as people could not afford to pay the extra to fill the home heating oil tank. They could not afford to pay the extra for the diesel and the petrol. All the same parties that are whingeing and crying now did not give a damn. They crucified the ordinary people to get cash to pay for pet projects around our capital.

In my constituency in west Cork, I have met shop owners, including the owners of Centra and SuperValu stores. I have met representatives of the hotel, farming and fishing sectors. Many more businesses and people in west Cork have turned to me as they know I was the only Deputy in west Cork who spoke of a crisis when all others were in favour of crucifying the people further. This recession makes all previous recessions look like a holiday. It saddens me to see that this Government is totally inactive. Instead of finding quick and fast solutions, such as cutting the tax take on fuel and taking on energy companies making mass profits, it is kicking solutions down the road. Instead of helping in a time of crisis, it is boasting about huge tax takes but is not giving anyone hope of getting anything major back.

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