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

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has confirmed that the new facility, which is likely to cost hundreds of millions of euros to build, will be funded by a new levy on consumer gas bills. The Green Party loves taxing the Irish people. It seems to have a fierce habit of that. I presume the Taoiseach will not agree with that. There are already taxes on fuel, as well as a carbon tax. Where is our carbon tax money going to go? Why can it not be put into a facility like this, which I fully agree needs to be built?

I asked for a floating gas terminal and felt it was a necessity. We pleaded with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, who ignored our calls. We felt it could be positioned off the coast of Cork. Where will the terminal be sited? We need to know that today. The Taoiseach said it will be constructed in the next six months. It certainly will, but the Irish taxpayer cannot pick up the tab on this. Irish taxpayers cannot keep picking up the tab for every issue of concern. There are carbon and NORA taxes. What other taxes will the Government put on ESB and gas bills which ordinary people will have to pay? They cannot be hit again.

The Government should use the carbon tax it has imposed on the people. It is mostly hurting the people of rural Ireland. Most parties in the House agreed to it. The floating terminal should be paid for using the carbon tax money that is there already. People should not be hit by another bill on top of the bills and levies they cannot afford to pay.

See this speech in context