I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — households, farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, tradespeople and businesses are facing renewed and significant increases in the cost of fuel and energy, adding further pressure to an already severe cost-of-living crisis; — petrol and diesel are essential rather than discretionary expenses for hundreds of thousands of people, particularly in rural Ireland where access to adequate public transport and viable alternatives to private vehicles remains limited or non…

On behalf of Independent Ireland, whether you agree or disagree with the motion, I want to say thanks to each speaker for making the effort. We respect democracy and we respect different views. People are entitled to their views. There are a few things that need clarification. We have always put forward an option if people wanted to find the money. Some 340,000 or 350,000 flights come into Ireland, and people have a choice to fly or go on holiday. However, they do not have a choice about driving between 20 and 80 m…

I thank the Minister of State.

A few weeks ago, I brought to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, a problem regarding apprenticeships. In fairness, she rang me last Sunday evening. Over the past few weeks, she has resolved this issue, which had given rise to problems for many apprentices. I thank her for resolving it. It is good that mother who never previously engaged with politicians was able to ring me and say that she was grateful that someone had picked up the phone, talked to her and resolved the matter. I hope the Tánais…

Basically, there was no Exchequer money at that time but we were still able to keep the bus service going. Unfortunately, there have been reviews, public consultations and various documents since then. I have spoken to Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, about this matter - I want to make it very clear that I am not directing any blame at him - but, despite everything, it is the same old story every year. People apply in February for bus tickets for kids who might have been attending a school for two years already …

Over the summer, will the Tánaiste crack the whip in order to get someone to try to resolve this matter once and for all, please?

I thank the Tánaiste for that. The number was 120,000 in 2018. Think back, however, and you will see that it was 135,000 or 140,000 in the eighties. That was the base figure at a time when Ireland was awash with money. To be blunt, parents who are engaging on this matter would say that they would be as well trying to talk to someone in the White House as they would be trying to talk to someone in Bus Éireann or in the depots. There is a problem. Today, the Dáil will rise. Children will be returning to school on 26,…

An awful lot of the children I am talking about have had concessionary tickets for the past two years. When the contracts are being drawn up, I just do not know why they to not reference 23- , 33- or 50-seaters. If this is done and if the population increases, all involved would under the procurement rules, be able to adapt.

Reference was made earlier to Independent Ireland and a vote in the European Parliament. I want to put on the record that Independent Ireland issued a statement to make it very clear that we stand with the people in Limerick and surrounding areas who have large mortgages and young families. The facts are not out yet on the percentages one way or the other. I want that on the record rather than innuendo being spread. Every one of us here has probably had contact with the National Rehabilitation Hospital. It does gre…

I thank the Minister. However, there is one thing we need to know. It is important the Department of Health and indeed the Department of public expenditure engage with the people involved in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. We frequently hear about assessments. As the Minister is aware, the reality that it takes six months for some people to get in the door to get on the road to recovery. While initially they may be in step-down services trying to help them as best they can, they need the expertise of the Nati…

In the context of this amendment, some accountability has to be brought to the Dáil. I support the Bill because it is needed. It is basically putting critical infrastructure projects to the top of the pile, to put it in simple terms. I note that the Minister said earlier, which he said previously, that private infrastructure projects are not part of this. The one thing I will say is that there are projects waiting for years. Galway hospital is one such example. It is critical infrastructure that is needed because i…

The night the first measures were announced here, a blind man would have known that when you could buy white diesel at a price within 3 cent of green diesel, the writing was on the wall. I gave a speech in here but no one would listen. It was the usual stuff. The Government TDs are on their phones, not listening to someone who comes from the sector. I have those black hands all my life with grease and oil. I know what it is to be an agricultural contractor and the Government, its civil servants and the people in he…

What was it they removed?

They were not taking as much tax in the EU.

They go and fill the drums and come back.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. We need to look at sectors that have been left behind. On home heating oil, I know there were a good few proposals in relation to hydrotreated vegetable oil, HVO. The statistics I am hearing are that HVO would cut emissions by 90%, but there is still a lot of taxes on it. That needs to be looked at. There is nothing there for people right around the country who are using home heating oil. The other side, which was brought up earlier, relates to plant hire. The…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. I want to be very clear that I am all for speeding up any infrastructure in the line of what Government needs to do, be that roads, rail or housing. There are a few issues. I am trying to get my head around parts of this Bill. Is this Bill solely for Government and semi-State bodies? I am asking whether some wind developer somewhere that is tormenting some community will be able to avail of that in some part of the country or is it just for Government projects, be they ro…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. First, any reduction is welcome. I was looking for figures with regard to NORA. Between €2 billion and €3 billion was supposed to be paid into it since 2007 or 2008. My understanding is that the oil reserves are not just in Ireland, but we have a deal with someone else. The way NORA is set up needs more explanation, to be quite frank about it. The levy going is a good thing. We welcome the reduction in the price of fuel for white diesel and petrol, but green diesel h…

I welcome some of the measures that have come, but there is a reality here. The Tánaiste spoke about Northern Ireland earlier. Those people are not bleeding as hard as the people here. The facts are that tonight, a litre of white diesel in the North costs the equivalent of €1.85, which is 40 cent less than here. There is a difference of €200 in the price of 500 litres of kerosene, while green diesel - it is red in the North - is €200 cheaper in the North. Let us concentrate on our own game. I welcome what has been …

The Government ends up with €16 per hour into its paws, and it is not in the field. It is time the Government woke up and looked at what was going on.