Dáil debates

Thursday, 15 September 2022

Security of Electricity Supply: Motion [Private Members]

 

5:55 pm

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Let me be frank, the current approach to energy policy and creation is an act of national self-sabotage. It is an absolute disgrace. Indeed the sense that people are getting is that our entire population has been taken hostage by a green hysteria and a demented level of ideological ruthlessness that is not grounded in any sense of proportion or rationality. It is wonderful to hear that many of those who were jumping up and down saying that green policies were not going far enough have now changed their tunes. It is grea.

It is also wonderful to see that people are copping on to this nonsense and that many of our turf cutters are back on the bogs where they should have been left all along. We are not listening to any more of the nonsense any longer in rural Ireland. If the lights go out this winter, the Minister should seriously think of resigning because businesses, households and working families cannot cope, nor should they have to, with these struggles because of the Minister's inadequacy and lack of ability to intervene with the electricity companies which are charging too much for bills. We know that and we see it.

I have met publicans who have seen their unit rate trebling. I have met farmers who have seen their bills go from €400 to almost €1,600. That is not sustainable. The Minister is responsible for this. He must intervene. I call on him to do so. If he cannot do so, then maybe he should resign. We would all breath a sigh of relief in rural Ireland because we are fed up. We have had enough of the nonsense. The so-called assurances provided by the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and this hapless and hopeless Government are dating so badly that they are beyond worthless. Nobody believes a word and there will be no comfort in the Minister's promises when bills of several thousand of euro drop through the inbox or on to the mat of many homes that are struggling to survive.

Instead of adopting even an interim approach with respect to fossil fuels and liquefied natural gas, LNG, this Government has decided to push ahead with unworkable, unsustainable and unforgivable policies that are damning our people to a perilous few years and for what? To reach some ludicrous international targets that have more in common with the sacrifices that a cult would demand, rather than taking any rational and proportional propose or using common sense. Where has common sense gone? Obviously it is not too common. People and rural Ireland have had enough of this nonsense.

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