Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

-----and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the most ambitious and overdue legislation the Opposition would never have introduced.

We are changing transport, providing huge investment in a new rail fleet, electrification, greater frequency and slashing public transport fares for everybody. There are buses serving towns that never had a bus before. There are safe walking and cycling routes for our children, students and everybody throughout our towns. We have introduced renewable energy, offshore wind, free solar panels on schools and grants for everybody else. We are protecting nature, doubling the number of national parks and wildlife ranges and matching funding and biodiversity officers in every council. We have halved childcare costs and provided cost-rental housing, a vacant homes tax and grants for vacancy and dereliction. That is effective Government.

I am disappointed in the Labour Party because I have always worked with its public representatives and have found it has good contributions to make. On the other hand, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats indulge in political theatrics. Deputy McDonald asked what planet we are on. We are on one that is on fire and Sinn Féin has no solutions. Deputy Cairns is obsessed with the Green Party. No wonder; it is where she gets her ideas and policies from. I have confidence in this Government.

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