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

We are in this situation thanks to the clash with Russia over the Ukraine, which means Europe has lost roughly one third of its regular gas supply. Much of Europe, particularly countries in the former Soviet Bloc, relied on Russian gas for the generation of electricity, home heating, cooking and industrial purposes. Germany and Italy, the largest and third largest economies, respectively, in the eurozone, were also heavily dependent on Russian gas. Ireland is almost exclusively reliant on the generosity of strangers based in the UK, which is struggling to keep the supply of energy up with demand. We lost a massive opportunity. I do not necessary blame all members of the Government for what has happened, but the Minister of State knows as well as I do that a major opportunity was lost with Shannon LNG. We had a great system in place. In 2016, the previous Government, in its programme for Government, supported a liquefied natural gas, LNG, facility in the Shannon region. However, due to the Green Party input in 2020, that was thrown out the window because it demanded that it be thrown out. We have seen the craziness of following the Green Party in some of its folly.

I refer to what was said last week about the car park. We used to have a massive car park in Leinster House off Merrion Square but some genius decided we should tear it up and put down a big lawn that we have to cut and maintain. It was a fine car park. We are renting parking spaces for staff and others since and we have to pay for them. When I say "we" I mean the taxpayer has to pay for it. Now, the Green Party leader is saying we should do away with parking out there altogether. Oireachtas staff, Members and everybody associated with the workings of this House should disappear our cars, put them somewhere else and make our way in to the Houses by foot or on bicycle. That is not practical or sensible. Why am I highlighting this issue? Would the Minister of State like to rely on a person who comes out with such a statement to support Shannon LNG, a sound sensible proposal to give us surety of energy supply? He is a man who is trying to take away the car parking spaces from underneath us.

It is crazy, gaga, stupid, insane, mental-ness. It needs to be called out for what it is.

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