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

On behalf of our independent technical group, I congratulate the new Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Verona Murphy. We look forward to working with her over the coming years. I also thank Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl for the kindness he has shown all of us in the Dáil in recent years.

As the leader of Independent Ireland, I am honoured to be in this Thirty-fourth Dáil, representing the people of Cork South-West. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue, Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice and I would like to welcome Independent Ireland's newest TD, Deputy Ken O'Flynn, representing Cork North-Central. We are also delighted to be working with Deputies Michael Healy-Rae, Danny Healy-Rae and Paul Gogarty in our independent technical group.

Independent Ireland was set up just over 12 months ago. Today, we have 23 councillors, four TDs and one MEP. We are now the fastest growing political movement in this country. On behalf of Independent Ireland, I thank everyone who has supported us, worked with us and voted for us. In the discussions on the formation of the Government, we sincerely hope parish pump politics will not take over from policies and common sense.

Independent Ireland spent many months putting our policies together to ensure a better life for everyone in this country. One of the biggest issues on the doors was the cost-of-living crisis. Once-off payments are not enough for struggling families who find it impossible to pay for childcare, heat homes and put food on the table. Regarding small businesses, we expect anyone negotiating for Government to demand an immediate drop in the VAT rate from 13.5% to 9%. On housing, more than 14,000 people are homeless, 4,000 of whom are children. Immediate action must be taken. We need to declare a housing emergency to implement emergency legislation which would streamline our planning laws for rural and urban Ireland and would also include promoting modular and log cabin houses.

We in Independent Ireland have strong policies on agriculture. We are 100% opposed to the Mercosur deal. We would expect every politician going into Government to make "No to Mercosur" a red-line issue. A Mercosur deal would cost Irish agriculture between €45 million to €55 million. We are totally opposed to any drop in the derogation, and while we in Independent Ireland accept we need cleaner waters, it is our State, with Uisce Éireann and our wastewater treatment plants, that is causing much of the pollution in this country. Our country has to stop pointing the finger of blame at agriculture. We live in a country where we have up to 1 million people waiting for medical procedures, people with disabilities left struggling with no services and little financial means and our carers being penalised by means testing. This all has to be a major focus for the new Government. Regarding fishing, the forgotten industry in this country, this country has to appoint a stand-alone Minister for fisheries, the marine and the islands. Education also has to be a priority for the incoming Government. Schools are struggling to pay ESB bills and the heating bill. Many schools are fighting for special needs classrooms and assistants. At Independent Ireland, we would like to see a Department of efficiency and reform, which would oversee Government Department spending using private industry expertise to improve efficiency within Government Departments. We must address the waste of taxpayers' money and this Department would enable us to improve efficiency. I look forward to working with everybody in this Dáil in the coming time.

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