Richard Boyd Barrett: Profits Over People on Jet Fuel Tax
Richard Boyd Barrett challenges the Minister over the cost-of-living crisis and a one billion-euro tax relief on jet fuel, arguing government priorities favour profitable airlines over struggling households. He cites 320,000 people in energy arrears and about 700,000 living in poverty, and links worsening hardship to rising rents and international conflict.
Crisis facing households
Richard Boyd Barrett lays out the scale of hardship: hundreds of thousands of people in arrears with energy bills, widespread poverty and soaring accommodation costs that are forcing young people to leave. He describes how the cost-of-living crisis began before international conflicts and has been intensified by recent wars.
Tax relief for airlines vs supports for people
Boyd Barrett highlights that Irish tax relief on jet fuel for airlines operating here hit one billion this year, arguing that profitable companies receive far greater benefit than tens of thousands of households hammered by fuel and energy increases. He contrasts that one billion-euro exemption with what he calls the government's crumbs to struggling families.
Political priorities and consequences
He directly challenges government priorities, saying they prioritise corporate profits over protecting working people and households. He warns that continued policy choices will deepen poverty, increase arrears and push more people out of the country as living costs and rents rise.
Context and urgency
The speech places the domestic crisis alongside international events, saying Trump's and Israel's war have made an already crushing situation worse. Boyd Barrett calls for a reassessment of priorities so that public policy supports people first, not the profits of profitable companies.
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Minister, there are 320,000 people in this country who are in arrears with their energy costs because they just can't pay them. We have about 700,000 people in this country who are living in poverty. And we have hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people, and that's what was expressed on the streets, who are absolutely crucified. With a cost of living crisis that started before Trump and Israel's disastrous war commenced, that was already crushing people, producing the arrears, the hardship and the suffering. Add to that the exorbitant rents and accommodation crisis that are leading young people to leave this country because they can't afford to live. Then Trump's war makes it even worse, and the government throws crumbs at people that make almost no difference. Now, compare what you've given in your total package to this headline. Irish tax relief on jet fuel for airlines operating here hit one billion this year. One billion. That was last November. So a few commercial airlines get one billion euro. That's in a total exemption on excise. Profitable companies get more by a significant margin than all the tens and tens of thousands of people hammered with the fuel and energy increases that are crucifying people. It's your priorities that are the problem. Trump and Israel have made this mess worse, and some of those people who cheered him on should seriously think, because his war is costing not just lives, but people in the pocket. But you have failed to protect them because you prioritise corporations making massive profits rather than the struggling working people and households in this country.
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