Danny Healy-Rae: confronts government over diesel omission
Danny Healy-Rae confronts the government in the Dáil over a relief package that he says ignores the cost of diesel for construction machines and civil contractors. He recalls warning the Taoiseach on 24 March and criticises ministers for prioritising a 40 million payment to Ukraine while domestic costs bite.
Immediate criticism: Danny Healy-Rae tells the Dáil he pleaded for action after the 24 March announcement on green diesel and kerosene reductions but says his warnings were left unaddressed. He highlights that the latest package contains no measures to help construction machines or civil contractors with rising diesel costs.
Who is affected: He points to diggers, cranes and the contractors building houses and infrastructure across the country, saying farmers and agricultural contractors received some relief but civil contractors were overlooked. He frames the omission as a serious concern for rural communities and the construction sector.
Appeal to ministers: Healy-Rae asks ministers to listen, to include the excluded groups in future measures, and to show that people outside Dublin are seen and supported. He explicitly references a recent 40 million payment to Ukraine as a factor that has deepened public frustration.
Consequences and follow-up: The speech signals continued pressure in the Dáil for the government to revisit the package. He warns there will be further occasions to raise the issue until the omission is rectified.
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Thank you very much, Minister. I stood here on the 24th of March when the Taoiseach and the government announced three sins, just three sins, for a reduction in the cost of green diesel and two sins in kerosene. I begged you here from where I'm standing now to listen to me and to come in the following week and address it. I said if you forgot it, I didn't understand it, I plead with you now to rectify it. And it was left, carry on. And it went from bad to worse when a minister gave 40 million again to Ukraine in the middle of it. That was like throwing gallons of petrol up in the fire because people are feeling the pinch like never ever before. And I'm asking now, there's a package, and you can listen to me Minister or you needn't, but there'll be another occasion like today and maybe more than that. In this package that's given out, there's no mention at all of the cost of the diesel or do anything about the diesel for construction machines. The machines that are involved in the building of houses, the high rise cranes that you see, the diggers that are digging the foundations, the diggers that are putting the services on the ground, whether they're mini diggers or larger diggers, there is something and not enough for farmers and agricultural contractors. But there's nothing at all for civil contractors. And I'm asking not to ignore me and not to forget it because this is a big consternation, it hasn't been addressed and I feel the reason that it hasn't been addressed was because he kept a lot of people out of the talks that had things to say. And there was plenty of rooms here around Dalian for me to talk to him and he just didn't want to. I'm asking to give the people down the country to get the feeling that this Dal appreciates them and that they're wanted and that they're needed and that they're being seen after properly because that hasn't been happening. Thank you very much. Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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