Dáil debates
Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
4:55 am
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Tá sé scannalach go bhfuair an Rialtas anailís óna chuid oifigigh féin a léirigh go raibh sochair fuinnimh ag teastáil go géar ach mar sin féin chuir sé deireadh leis sa bhudget. Bhí an chomhairle seo ina lámha. Bhí a fhios ag an Rialtas go raibh billí leictreachais ag dul suas agus suas ach chuir sé deireadh go fóill leis an t-aon phíosa chuidithe a bhí daoine ag brath air. We said the Government's decision to cancel energy credits was a terrible call and that the removal of this vital support would leave working households under huge pressure and leave them struggling to pay their electricity bills in the face of relentless price hikes this winter. This morning, it was revealed that the Government pushed forward with the withdrawal of energy credits despite stark advice from its own officials. Documents obtained through freedom of information by Lynn Boylan MEP revealed three damning findings from the internal analysis conducted by the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment ahead of the budget. First, the case for energy credits was stronger this year than last year. The Government knew that annual bills were set to be higher in October 2025 than they were in October 2024. Second, households would have to find an extra €321 to cover their energy bills this winter in the absence of energy credits and, third, an energy scheme for struggling households was shelved and not included in the budget.
It is clear from this analysis that energy credits were badly needed this year. The Government had this advice to hand. It knew energy bills were going up and up and yet it still cancelled the one bit of help that people really relied on to pay off these rip-off bills. This is scandalous and people are bearing the brunt of this. It is clear by the day that the Government ditched energy credits because the election is over and it feels it can break its promises without any consequences.
Working households are paying a heavy price for the Government's cynical choice. It is much colder now. People are finding it harder to light and heat their homes and more than 500,000 households cannot pay their energy bills. The Government's decision to cancel energy credits means that even more families are going to be pushed over that line. The truth is that working people were not a priority in the budget. It was a budget of €9.4 billion that left them worse off and did not even include a cost-of-living package. The CSO just reported on Monday that prices continue to rise and are rising faster now than in the past two years. People are under huge pressure in the lead-up to Christmas. They are watching every single euro and they are forced to make really tough choices.
I spoke to a mother on Monday. She and her husband are working. She talking to me about her three kids. They sat down to write their Christmas list last week. Even though they were not asking for much, she had to convince each and every one of them to drop something off the list. She had to sit them down and explain to those children that even Santa is feeling the cost-of-living crisis this year. Does the Taoiseach in any way understand the pressure that ordinary families the length and breadth of this State are under this Christmas? People see no end in sight. They see a Government that is closed off to their hardship. It cannot go on. The Government needs to act to end the rip-off, to get costs under control and to make life affordable. Its inaction does not cut it and its bluff and spin has run out of road.
This morning the question I, and I am sure many families, are asking is: why the Government cancelled energy credits despite the analysis from its own officials which showed how badly they were needed this year? Will it finally see sense and reinstate those credits to help people through these winter months?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ní aontaím leis an Teachta in aon chor. Is léir gur chuireamar an-chuid áiseanna ar fáil sa cháinaisnéis, go háirithe do na daoine bochta agus do na daoine ar ioncam íseal. Rinneamar an-chuid infheistíochta in infreastruchtúr na tíre agus mar aon leis sin chuireamar an-chuid isteach do dhaoine le riachtanais speisialta agus do dhaoine a bhfuil ioncam íseal acu. Tackling energy and affordability is a priority of Government. People are under pressure. Up to €3.3 billion had been allocated through energy credits. That did not have any impact in terms of reducing the permanent cost of energy. Of course, the Department of Finance, the Department of public expenditure or, indeed, the Department of Social Protection would not have supported the universality of energy credits on this occasion. The Deputy talks about one group of officials in the Department of energy who had views but there is the broader Government there. We also took the view that we wanted to concentrate and prioritise our resources on those on the lowest incomes and those who would be most impacted by the energy price increases. Therefore, we increased the fuel allowance and we also increased the number of people who would be entitled to the fuel allowance, particularly those on working family payments. Some 26% of households are now entitled to the fuel allowance and that is a help to people facing energy costs. There has been huge investment in terms of the retrofitting programme and the warmer homes scheme, which now has hundreds of thousands of people benefiting from that. There are also the microgeneration supports. About 150,000 people have benefited from the supports we have given for microgeneration.
We prioritised the issue of child poverty. We provided an additional €8 per week for children under 12, bringing that weekly payment to €58 and an additional €16 per week for children aged 12 or over, bringing that weekly child support payment to €78. These are unprecedented increases. We deliberately targeted those households to get far more additionality. Then we invested very significantly in infrastructure.
When I look at the Central Bank and how it analyses inflationary pressures and so on, the Sinn Féin budget would have added - Sinn Féin wanted billions and billions of more spending - 2.5% to the rate of inflation and to the cost of living. That is what its proposals would have done. That would have actually disadvantaged people even more. We have to get the balance right here. It is not fiscally sustainable to have a once-off package every single year for the next number of years. It is just not sustainable.
Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Just at election times.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Last week, various bodies were saying Government was spending far too much as it is. This year's budget is about €117 billion, €98 billion plus in capital and so forth, and then we have increased current expenditure over the past three years by 15%. We are spending very significant sums of money. We are targeting it in terms of infrastructure, low income families and making sure that those in the lowest deciles of income are protected, insofar as we possible can. We are then dealing with the fuel allowance and so on. Then there is the VAT, of course. We have extended the reduction on VAT to 9% out to 2030, which will save households up to about €100 per year in addition to the tax disregard for households involved in energy microgeneration and so forth.
5:05 am
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach's own officials warned him. They said that without Government support, customers will pay more this winter for electricity than at any time during the energy crisis. They said that before price increases, arrears had increased to record levels. We know this and the Taoiseach knew this. It is in black and white in what his officials told him. They make clear and lay out in graphs that families will have to find an extra €321 this winter compared with last winter to pay their energy bills. The Government had all this information, yet still decided to abandon workers and families by withdrawing these energy credits. It did that at a time when the Taoiseach knew and his officials told him energy company after energy company had decided to increase their prices in these months. Over 1 million families are going to see price increases. His officials warned him and he chose to ignore them and abandoned workers.
I will ask the Taoiseach again. Why did he cancel the energy credits despite the warnings from his own officials? Why did he ignore the fact that arrears had reached record levels and that families would have to find €321 and pay higher energy prices than ever before during the energy crisis? Why did he choose to ignore all of that and abandon these workers at this time?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Because we believe in targeting resources as opposed to universality. Sinn Féin must be the only left-wing party in Europe and across the world-----
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You did not believe it at election time last year.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, it is not your question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----that does not believe in targeting resources.
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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You have changed your tune since the election.
Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Government bought the votes.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We believe in targeting resources.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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There is a €2 billion social protection package, which is about protecting pensioners, families with children and-----
Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Institutional investors
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----particularly, people on low incomes. That is the choice we made, and also to improve our infrastructure.
Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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And big developers.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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We do have to deal in a more systemic way with the high cost of energy. There are significant factors in Ireland that lead to the high cost of energy. That is well known and well documented. The bottom line is that we have had a very significant budget in terms of expenditure. Deputy Doherty wants to add another €2 billion to it for a short-term intervention which would apply to very wealthy people. Millionaires would benefit from his proposal.
Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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You are giving it to the speculators. Three quarters of a billion.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Deputy, please. This is not musical chairs; it is Leaders' Questions. Do not try to talk over me.
Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Three quarters of a billion.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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When I met with Department of Social Protection officials and the Minister-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----they were very clear about targeted measures, particularly in terms of the most vulnerable children in the country.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Doherty just wants to ignore all of that.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach, time is up. Deputy Bacik.
Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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Child poverty has increased every year under Fianna Fáil .
Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Five thousand homeless children.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Go raibh maith agat. I want to speak about migration and the Government’s one-eighty change in tone and policy on immigration. Since the Greens left government, Cabinet members have notably shifted rightward on this, pandering to some of the worst instincts in our otherwise welcoming society. The Government has allowed dangerous rhetoric to obscure its own failures on housing and infrastructure. It is introducing new immigration policies without evidence despite ample evidence of their potential harm to migrant communities in Ireland.
We all hear reports of rising levels of prejudice against immigrants, people of colour and anyone who looks different. We see this in our own communities. We have seen buildings housing asylum seekers and refugees being set alight, including an appalling arson attack in Drogheda, and a man killed last year, Josip Strok, while speaking his native Croatian on a Dublin street. Just now, during the debate on Labour's motion on transgender rights, we spoke about homophobic attacks on the streets.
These violent attacks are rightly condemned by us all but we also need to recognise that policies and rhetoric can contribute to an environment where violence can develop. Words matter when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, as we have all just acknowledged, and when it comes to migrant rights too. What we say as TDs, and what Government Ministers say, really matters.
Last month, the Tánaiste said too many immigrants were arriving into Ireland, wrongly implying that people facing deportation make up a significant share of Ireland’s inward migration. Unfortunately, he was backed by the Taoiseach and others in government. This was really disappointing because we all know what an enormously important and valuable contribution migrant workers make to our society. Our hospitality, tech, health and care sectors all rely heavily on migrant workers. We know this is a reality. Any of us who visit hospitals or care homes will see this. We should express positive recognition of this in our words and actions.
Yesterday, President Zelenskyy addressed a joint sitting of the Oireachtas and we all rightly expressed strong solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but the Government has just stripped financial supports from Ukrainian refugees, and with the backing of some Opposition parties, unfortunately. That cut will disproportionately affect women, children and older people. It does not look like solidarity to us in Labour.
Now, the Government is introducing a mean-spirited rent payment for asylum seekers. This is not a revenue-raising measure. The Minister admits the impacts is unclear. This looks performative. It is nothing more than what we might describe as deterrence theatre, like tightening up the process on citizenship applications or introducing restrictive rules on family reunification. These measures will only make life harder for people who are already suffering hardship and have come here fleeing war and persecution.
The Labour Party calls for a positive, fact-based information campaign on migration. Rather than engaging in a race to the bottom, will the Taoiseach adopt a more positive approach to migration and recognise explicitly the huge contribution made by migrants to Irish society?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. I have been extremely consistent in advancing the positive reality and experience of inward migration into Ireland. There are many legal ways in which people can come to Ireland to work, live and reside. That is very clear in terms of our work permit system, for example, which has worked effectively and efficiently in respect of various sectors of our economy that require additional workers.
Only last week, I was with Microsoft. It has 93 nationalities working with it in this country. It came to Ireland in 1985, when there was 17% unemployment. That is why this Government focuses on enterprise and economy a lot. I have never forgotten those days and it is a great motivating force to avoid the complacency regarding the economy that many people on the left have. They almost dismiss it as something that comes naturally. Migration has been an important part of Irish economic and societal growth.
There is free movement within the European Union. Many people from the European Union come to live and work in Ireland. They are in many of our companies, in our health service and elsewhere. I condemn any attacks or any form of racism or targeting of people because of their ethnicity.
Ireland is a very different country from what it was 30 years ago. I have met with young people whose parents came to Ireland. They clearly have an ethnic background, they said to us. They are Irish citizens but they have been subjected to intimidation and attack. I abhor that. It is wrong to say the Government's desire to have a fair, robust, legal migratory pathway is somehow incentivising those attacks or contributing to that sentiment. That is a step too far. That sentiment was there long before any changes in the procedures the Government has announced. It is important to have a fair, robust asylum system that is also timely in terms of the consideration of applications and appeals. The absence of such a system would actually create the negative climate the Deputy speaks of. It is part of the issue.
The origins of asylum are rooted in conflict, war and political suppression. I am trying to be careful but the evidence is that for quite a substantial number of those who seek asylum, the motivation is primarily economic. I understand why, by the way, given what is happening in other countries around the world in terms of quality of life and economy, but these are the realities we have to deal with.
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I thank the Taoiseach for the considered response. I agree with him on the need to promote the work permit scheme. Indeed, the Labour Party is looking for generosity on work permits and for a more expansive programme of legal pathways to Ireland for people who wish to bring their skills and expertise. That is a very important matter when we talk about inward migration.
For me, this is personal, as the granddaughter of a refugee who came here and contributed enormously to Irish society, as migrant communities do. We need to see political leadership. Of course the Taoiseach is right that there are people seeking to stoke anti-migrant sentiment - a small number of people on the far right - but we need political leadership to counter that. That is why in my constituency I have initiated Dublin 4 and Dublin 6 for All groups. People are welcoming. Across Ireland we are seeing that, but there needs to be political leadership to ensure people can express that welcome and host welcome meetings for new IPAS centres in their communities, as we are doing in Dublin Bay South.
We need this at a national level and we need leadership on this from the Government, and not the sense that rhetoric and policies are hardening. Unfortunately, that has been the experience recently.
5:15 am
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Again, I think we have shown political leadership in this country. Remember Brexit happened because of the migration question in the United Kingdom and it has had disastrous results for the British economy and British society as a result of that, so there has to be an intelligent, informed and balanced approach to the migration question. We have to deal with issues as they present themselves, and fears that people have, rightly or wrongly, or people who are influenced by those who want to spread aggression and hostility towards people of different ethnic backgrounds. The Government's leadership is in steering a course that is moving towards a more robust, fair and timely system for dealing with applications for asylum while also then dealing with the more legal pathways, as the Deputy has described.
Always remember that we took a lead as well-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----although it was a European Union-wide directive, in terms of protecting Ukrainians and so on. The evidence shows it is not rhetoric but that Ireland responded in a generous manner to that situation but I thank the Deputy for raising it.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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Yesterday's historic visit by President Zelenskyy allowed us to reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It was also an opportunity to mark the huge efforts of people here who stood with Ukraine. Since Russia's illegal invasion nearly four years ago, 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed here. In every corner of the country, Ukrainian men, women and children are now valued members of communities. While it was undoubtedly challenging at times to find accommodation, people rose to that challenge. More than 40,000 Ukrainian people have been accommodated by more than 22,000 hosts since the outbreak of the war. This scale of support is something we should always recognise and always celebrate.
It is particularly important to highlight the many positive stories of migration and integration now because we are seeing the horrific consequences of rising hate across the country. This week alone, there have been reports of three separate violent attacks. A Brazilian delivery worker, André Oliveira, was set upon by ten people in Dublin and beaten on the head with pieces of wood. He had to have brain surgery and is still recovering in hospital. Three Afghan asylum seekers were also attacked by a large group of up to 14 people who followed them with motorbikes and a car. During a co-ordinated and sustained assault, the attackers screamed racist slurs as they beat the men and smashed up their car. In another incident, a food truck belonging to a Venezuelan family who moved here in 2018 was set on fire and destroyed. These are shocking violent incidents and they are now happening at an alarming frequency. I am hugely concerned about where this is going and where it might lead.
For centuries, Irish people were forced to emigrate all over the world. For that reason, we have always understood migration and have been hugely welcoming but a divisive, hateful and dangerous narrative about migrants is now taking hold. This is not helped by a Government and some in opposition who continually frame migration as a problem or migrants as a burden. While this explosion in hate is mainly directed at migrants, it is experienced by people of colour. When difference is vilified, people's skin colour makes them all a target.
The Government has spent months talking about migration and is now vocal about wanting to reduce it. The Minister for justice's plans are entirely focused on framing migration as a negative. There has been no attempt to tackle rising hate and racism.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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Are there any plans for a campaign to highlight the positives of migration and what is being done to support migrants and people of colour who are now living in fear?
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. At the outset, I would condemn unreservedly the attacks the Deputy has referenced in terms of the Brazilian delivery person. I have also read reports in terms of three Afghan asylum seekers reporting to the Garda that they had been viciously attacked in their car. There is, and has been a growing, atmosphere, largely fuelled by elements within society that are far removed from this House, let us be honest, who are seeking to gain electoral and popular traction in respect of their views. The responsibility of this House and all parties in it is to make sure those views do not hold sway or get a disproportionate influence. That is actually the challenge facing us.
To conflate a Government seeking to create a fair and robust asylum-seeking process or programme with elements on the far right who are peddling hate is not fair and I think it is wrong. I would not conflate the two at all. People have had concerns about migration in society. There is no point in trying pretend, or put our heads in the sand, that people did not have concerns. They do. Our challenge is to articulate and engage with people with those concerns.
Paul McAuliffeMicheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's population has been growing significantly. That is just a fact. Saying that does not mean we are inciting anything. We are not. It has been positive. My view is that since 1845 our population was in decline, right up to the 1980s nearly. It has been a transformative story from the early 1990s to the current day. That is a positive in my view. Even at that, the island is not back to the pre-Famine population status in terms of statistics and so on. It is an interesting perspective. In the past ten to 15 years, however, there has been very significant growth and that has created pressure on a whole load of services. I think the more legal pathways we create, the better for society and for our economy and so forth.
I am concerned. In terms of a campaign, a national policy is now being developed in respect of migration to update where we have come from. As part of that, there will be a communicative programme in terms of the importance of tolerance, inclusion and diversity and, above all, of explaining the phenomenon of migration and the benefits that have accrued to Irish society as manifested in our health service, in our education system, in services more generally and in our economy.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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This Government is playing with fire and I think the Taoiseach knows it. It is choosing to frame migration in an overwhelmingly negative light.
Conor SheehanHolly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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Multiple Ministers are now saying that net migration is too high but net migration reduced by 25% last year to fewer than 60,000 people. Of the people coming here, about 50% are Irish, UK or EU citizens. The vast majority of the rest are those who are here on work permits to keep our hospitals open, build the homes we desperately need and keep our hospitality sector afloat. Claims for international protection applications are also down significantly, by 40% this year. Why, then, is the Taoiseach and his Government choosing to frame it so negatively? The truth is we need people to come here and work. Our critical public services would grind to a halt if they did not. These workers are telling us they feel a shift, that racism is on the rise and they are reconsidering staying in Ireland and that is the real migration crisis.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I call the Taoiseach to respond.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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What is the Taoiseach going to do to address it? The campaign he is talking about is the EU migration pact one. Is there going to be a Government campaign to create awareness about this issue?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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First, I disagree fundamentally. The Deputy is conflating the unacceptable behaviour of certain people in society with Government policy. That is wrong. The Deputy should not do that. She has been trying to do that now for a couple of weeks in the Dáil.
Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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The Government is saying that the numbers are too high.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I think that is wrong. That is the first point.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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No, that is wrong. I really resent that and I think it is not fair to do it.
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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The Tánaiste was outside answering migration questions-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy put the question.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I did not interrupt Deputy Cairns when she spoke, so I would appreciate the same facility and tolerance from the other side of the House in respect of this. There are legal pathways to work in Ireland. There always have been and we have a generous work permit system. There have also been visa-free arrangements with certain countries.
Every country has a sovereign duty and obligation in respect of who comes into the country and who leaves it, or certainly whoever comes into the country. Every country has that. There are always limits and there always have been limits. The Deputy is suggesting there should not be any, it seems to me.
5:25 am
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is what I have picked up. Therefore, all that is happening right now is that fair, robust and timely procedures are being put in place. The best way to do things is through legal pathways. That gives sustainability for the individual as well.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Thank you, Taoiseach. Time is up. We now move to-----
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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At all times, by the way, irrespective of what avenue people come in, dignity is important-----
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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-----Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----and the treatment of every individual with respect. Our education system has shown that.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Taoiseach, time is up. I call Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Government policy through education has been very inclusive and we have very supportive of every child who comes into this country who needs to access education.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I wish the Taoiseach well with the new legislation he is bringing forward in relation to infrastructure. If it is not emergency legislation, we will be caught again down the road with regard to housing, motorways, roads, waterways and sewerage.
How would the Taoiseach like to get this message? I welcome the new legislation but this is another part. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, was set up by the State.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The EPA. An Bord Pleanála was set up by the State. I got a message the other day from a guy I know in the west who employs 200 people.
Howya Fitz? Eighteen months now and we are still waiting for planning. €3 million spent before that. €3 million to spend. Someone else called last week from An Bord Pleanála to have another walk around. Business doesn't wait, Fitz. We have worked in specialised manufacturing, in pharmaceuticals and in microchips. We are now in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. 200 people employed, 40 more jobs to be created. I am fed up of State agencies. Denmark want us to move production with a building straight away, no objections. They appreciate business. Sad to say, but we have always tried to make sure we create jobs in Ireland. It's a sad thing to say, Fitz, that we may have to move.
"The system," he said, is "f" and it ended with "d". I would use the word "broken". That is the word of a person who is creating jobs in this country. That is An Bord Pleanála, ABP. The State is also responsible for the EPA. A few months ago, I saw George Lee talking about peat being extracted illegally. A person went through one county and we will have a report next week to show that with regard to everything on one county, misinformation was given out. At the moment the EPA is talking about farmers. At the moment, outside every water treatment plant, where the water is exiting, there are enough videos done by ordinary people right around this country to show what is coming out at the exit. Why are there not analytics or basic information they can put there to know the flow and the type of stuff coming out?
These are two agencies set up by different Governments - not the current Government but different Governments. These are two agencies that are failing people in this country.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Time is up, Deputy. Put the question.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Taoiseach's new legislation - and I wish him well on it - has nothing to do with this. How are we going to get these people to do their jobs efficiently, properly and fairly for the people of this country?
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy very much. That is why, this morning, the Government launched the accelerated infrastructure report. The Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, has led the charge since this Government was established nearly a year ago with regard to an infrastructure division within the Department of public expenditure. He appointed an external task force led by Mr. Sean O'Driscoll and a number of people from the private sector or involved in State agencies who have first-hand knowledge of the challenges and barriers to development in this country. Its report is comprehensive and it is not any one measure that will change this but the sum of all the measures.
We are going to pass legislation to establish a critical infrastructure Bill. We will also develop legislation around emergency powers being given to Government. There is also a need for concurrent decisions by various State agencies, not sequential ones. In other words, when the planning is going on, the procurement should be going on and the other permits should be sought as well, not one after the other. There is much more in respect of that.
We are also bringing in legislation. Yesterday, the Minister for climate and energy announced, for example, that there is a six-week consultation in respect of capping the fees for judicial reviews and how much the taxpayer ordinarily pays now compared to what should be the case into the future. There are a lot of measures; the issue for us is to implement them over the next 12 months and we are determined to do that. There will be timelines and there will be no hiding place for agencies either. There will be clear instructions given to agencies to do their work. If they do not, a light will be shone upon them for not doing their work.
We always have to keep in mind that the Environmental Protection Agency was established at the time for good reason. I remember it; I think it was back in 1989, 1990 or that period, if I am not mistaken. Why? There was a major incident in a pharmaceutical plant, if I recall. There would have perhaps been plans coming in relation to that but there was always a good rationale as to why agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency were established. We need a planning authority. That is required. The EPA was established in 1992 and I think there was an incident in Ringaskiddy, if I recollect. People cried out for protection. The public wants protection.
With regard to measurement, the Deputy is correct. I was on farms a year and a bit ago where the whole flow is measured right to the estuary by Teagasc and the farmers. In fairness, it is measured every ten minutes. The only thing is that the estuary is still polluted. They are not totally disconnected so we have to be aware of that. In fairness, a lot of metrics from farmers on the ground are quite impressive with regard to what is happening on the farm and things are very more advanced in that regard. Agencies have to work more effectively; there is no question about that.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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As I said earlier, I welcome the legislation he is proposing but it talks about ABP judicial reviews - I agree that there are too many of them - and how it will be more difficult, to put it simply. There are different tweaks like that and the Taoiseach is talking about emergency legislation but I am talking about an ordinary person who is creating jobs in rural Ireland. In the west, 200 jobs to us are the same as 4,000 in Intel. That is the reality. The problem is that before we go to judicial review or keep going on all the other parts the Government is bringing in - as I said, I welcome that - the State agency, ABP, has held these people up.
The board of directors of this company is meeting next to decide whether they will pull plant in Ireland and go to Denmark. That is a sad reflection from people who set up a business in Ireland, employ Irish people and would die for this country. We need to make sure there is accountability. I am not talking about the judicial reviews. All of that stuff is further on.
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Deputy's time is up. The Taoiseach to respond.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I welcome what the Taoiseach is doing and I am not going against that but what I am saying is that the State agencies are not doing their jobs to help facilitate these businesses.
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy could put us in contact with that company, the Ministers, Deputies Peter Burke or Jack Chambers, would be interested in meeting. The first Minister, as Minister for enterprise, would maybe see if he could do anything to help it in its situation. Then, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, could do well to listen to that company in terms of the barriers it has faced.
The Deputy said An Bord Pleanála is the problem. We have established a new planning commission, which has been substantially resourced, much more so than its predecessor. Certain systems have changed there because there was an inherited situation with An Bord Pleanála that was not good. The planning Act allows for timely decisions. There has to be statutory delivery. This business of looking for more information is driving people nuts and decisions have to be taken on time in respect of the core economy. I fully accept that 200 jobs in rural Ireland is huge, particularly in that sector. They are good, high-value jobs and I fully accept that.
5:35 am
Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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There is a special gathering in the Public Gallery today with Deputy Peter "Chap" Cleere. I do not think I have ever heard him mention Boolyglass but he has mentioned every other part of the constituency. I wish a happy 70th birthday to Tom Dalton from Boolyglass, County Kilkenny. Enjoy your day.