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

Before I begin, I thank our administrative assistant Brian Ó Domhnaill for all his work in putting this motion together. The Rural Independent Group has been very consistent and we have also put forward a number of solutions to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and to the Government. We do not see any Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael Deputies flanking the Minister this morning. They were there, however, to endorse the reckless policies and they signed off on the policies. That must be remembered by the people. The truth needs to be heard here and it needs to be known.

I begin by saying that in recent reports in the last week we see that ESB profits reached €390 million in the first six months of this year. I put it to the Minister that people are struggling. I do not think the Minister realises it or gets it. People are really on their knees. I have met businesspeople and farmers. I have one such bill here with me that shows an increase from €400 every two months, to €1,590.78. That is some increase for a farmer in west Offaly. I ask the Minister to take an urgent intervention. We know the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is not too fond of agriculture and that he would like to see the farmers driven off the land but we in the Rural Independent Group will not allow the Minister to do that. We will not allow the Minister or his reckless Government to do such a thing and particularly when there are food security issues also. Food security is part of the problem that the Minister's policies have created.

Today we are speaking on energy. As I have said, people are really struggling. They are dreading the thoughts of the bill coming through the letter box or the inbox. The Minister must take urgent action. I called on the Minister personally, before the summer recess, to intervene with the ESB. Instead of pursuing the ongoing and sustained attack on rural communities, urban communities and agriculture I asked the Minister to do his job and intervene with the ESB. This was before those profits were known. I asked the Minister to do that. Has the Minister taken any action? I would like to hear about this in the Minister's speech. We do not want tokenistic measures such as €200 thrown at people. He would not give it to a child.

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