Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As one of the few Senators from the midlands, I am concerned about some of the negative press the midlands receives, particularly and disappointingly from some of its own political representatives. As a progressive and pragmatic Green Party politician, I refuse to accept their destructive story that decarbonising this important region means we are losing something valuable. We are not and I am calling that out because what we are actually doing is gaining. Times are changing and the midlands region is moving on. Nostalgic memories of days on the bog and the smell of burning turf cannot hold us back. I acknowledge that turf is still an important energy source for some but our children will not be heating their homes with turf or coal or even with oil or gas. They will be using electricity and that vital energy will be generated from renewable sources, of which we have an abundance. Our children know this because they are environmentally and socially aware and as policymakers and legislators, it is our responsibility to be so too and to make sure they have a future in rural midlands counties such as Laois and Offaly.

I have seen first hand how enthusiastic people in the midlands are about using our tired, spent bogs as the basis of regeneration. They want to bring tourism to the area, to work in renewable energy and to create people-first and town-centre-first towns in places such as Portlaoise and Tullamore. Some would like to keep the likes of Laois and Offaly in the past, forever suppressed, for a few populist, self-serving headlines but I am focused on the future - a clean, green future for which our children will thank us. When they want to come home, come home they will to good jobs, to a place where they can settle and rear their own families and to an area that has rejuvenated itself into the vibrant and modern region it deserves to be. This is the green agenda and it is also this Government's agenda. This is the move from brown to green. This is the future for the midlands and I intend to play my part in bringing that future vision to reality.