Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Government is failing to deal with the real issues. I am not going to say that I do not welcome the once-off payments and double payments but it is nothing short of an election gimmick. The real problem is the cost of energy and the gouging by the energy companies. We have the highest gas, oil and electricity prices in Europe. Why is that? This is what needs to be tackled instead of coming in here after the budget every year and passing legislation to give money back to people. We are taking it off them in the first instance. Carbon tax has already been added to people's bills. It is crippling people. The Government will tell us it is necessary to help retrofitting. Figures were given out regarding all the houses in Tipperary waiting to be retrofitted. It would take 200 years to do it so let us be serious here and be fair. The Government should stop coming in here every year to give some money back to people mar dhea. It sounds great for politicians out canvassing in the election that is due to be called - whenever the dog sees the rabbit and that has to come very soon - but the Government will be like rabbits in headlights because the people know what is going on. They see the money going out of their bank accounts. They see the cost of living, oil, gas and electricity and they know the companies are running off to the banks with the huge profits they are making but yet the Government will not deal with those issues with which ordinary people must try to live. The Government should be able to stop these big companies from milking people. Regardless of whether they are farmers, householders or people going to work, they are being overcharged and ripped off and it is totally unfair.

These measures are only tinkering around the edges. The Ceann Comhairle heard me say before that it is like rubbing butter on a fat sow’s you-know-where. It is not dealing with the problem. It is gimmickry of the highest order, particularly giving it in October before the election to make people feel good. They will know the cost in January when we have snow, wind and rain and if we have a harsh spring. The Government's gimmicks will be like snow on a ditch with your paybacks, they will be gone. I know the sow will probably be in the butcher shop but people will not be able to afford it. The Government should deal with the real problems, and not gimmickry.

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