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

In our deliberations on the Bill’s provisions, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding Ireland’s energy security, a non-negotiable asset that cannot be jeopardised by political hesitation or short-term thinking. Ensuring the future energy needs of our nation is a collective duty that begins with unwavering support for vital initiatives like the Shannon LNG terminal and the Barryroe field. These endeavours hold the potential to strengthen our energy resilience and shield the essential interests of our citizens, interests that should never be sacrificed in the pursuit of political convenience.

The fate of the Shannon LNG storage facility was sealed on 28 April 2020, a date etched in infamy. On that day, the current Taoiseach and Tánaiste, in their pursuit of power, signed a letter addressed to the Green Party unambiguously pledging their opposition to the Shannon LNG storage facility in its entirety. This political manoeuvre was the price of coalition, an attempt to grasp the trappings of power. What was once a pre-Government commitment soon became an integral part of the official Government programme. It cannot be denied for what it truly was – a deliberate act of national self-sabotage orchestrated by the leadership of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

The Rural Independent Group, whose members have approached politics in a commonsensical manner down the years, has pleaded with the Government for a floating LNG terminal in Cork, but the Government has continuously refused what would be a clean fuel option. We have discussed the Barryroe licence. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, sat on the issue until he made it a non-viable option. Despite that, the State continues to support fuel coming into the country via Moffat in Scotland. There is no problem at all in the wide earthly world with that. The Government pats people on the back and tells them to bring in as much as they can because doing so makes it look like we are not contributing to the issue. The Government makes significant profits on fuel. The State imports fuel because it cannot produce the fuel itself. Today, the British granted another exploration licence. Britain has moved ahead, as is essentially the rest of the world, but the Green Party, with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, has stifled this country and left us importing everything.

I was across the road a while ago when I met the solid fuel merchants. Some members of the Government should be in Duffy’s circus, as this situation is a circus. The merchants have been prevented from selling coal, briquettes and turf, but those fuels are flying into all parts of the South from the North anyway. The Government does not give a damn. Solid fuel merchants are trying to abide by the rules and laws they set, but the Government has closed its eyes to the fact that a bag of coal is €6 cheaper when it is smuggled in from the North. There is no worry about that from the Government. Sure, as long as we are not producing the fuel and all of this happens quietly, is it not fine? We are not stupid. The people of Ireland are certainly not stupid. They are furious. Coal merchants, who are adhering to the law, will end up ruined.

The cost of fuel today is €1.88 to €1.90 per litre in some places. For many ordinary parents and others who are trying their best to survive, this country is becoming unbearable. They are finding it extremely difficult to survive. That is because of this Government with its carbon tax, its National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy, etc. All of these taxes are coming down on people’s backs. Not only that, but people who are working their butts off must pay income tax every week. Despite all of that, the Government is happy to grab as much tax as it can from fuel sales. The Minister of State cannot deny it. He needs to put both hands up in the air and accept it. I spoke to someone from the motor industry today who told me about travelling 250 km and needing to carry out a fast charge due to owning a fast-charge car. I was interested. If it is an economical and cleaner way to go, we will all do so, but it usually is expensive. For someone like me who travels 360 to 380 km to get here from west Cork, I cannot pull in for 20 minutes for a fast charge twice on the way up. Matters are not advanced as much as the Government loves to think they are.

The cost of energy, including electricity, is out of control. People cannot pay their bills. The Government has not stood by the people and it continuously stifles any bit of progress in the country that could at least raise us to a level that equals what is happening elsewhere in the world. The proof of this is the Shannon LNG project and the Barryroe field. The rest of the country is boring and going ahead non-stop the same as ever. We are just left behind thanks to the Government’s carry-on.

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