Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Senator Boylan made comments about Senator Higgins's amendment. Obviously if the amendment is pushed to a vote, I will be supporting the Government but I agree with some of the sentiments that have been expressed.

It is important that we spend money to facilitate proper just transition, as was promised. The Leas-Chathaoirleach will probably know because of his connection to Roscommon and the midlands that some of the semi-State bodies have removed themselves from promises that have been given. The wilderness park is one example but there other projects to which I could refer.

I am sorry for being a bit parochial but those of us in that area have suffered a lot. We accepted change. I am talking about a rural area and farmers will accept solar panelling and other types of change. However, we cannot have moneys withdrawn or reneging by semi-State bodies. I am thinking about the communities around Lanesborough and Longford. I often draw attention to north-east Roscommon, an area the Leas-Chathaoirleach knows well. That area is not spoken about often. We suffered more than most counties from a loss of employment because of the requirements for the ESB and Bord na Móna to change and move from brown to green. I stress again that we are in favour of change but just transition must be just transition as it was outlined.

In fairness to the Minister of State, he acknowledged that here today and the Minister has done so in the past. We need to ensure that those projects which were promised funding are going to get it. We need to have no hold-ups in the system in that regard. I do not make any apology for fighting for that part of the country on that issue.