Ken O'Flynn: Loan Guarantee 'Brings Us in the Back Door'
Ken O'Flynn criticised a government loan guarantee linked to support for Ukraine, arguing it is not merely humanitarian aid but a loan Ireland would be expected to collect from Russia. He said the guarantee undermines the country's neutrality and effectively brings the state into supporting military aid.
Minister's explanation challenged
Ken O'Flynn disputed the Minister's framing, saying this is 'not just a humanitarian support loan, which we've given generously to.' He warned the loan would be a guaranteed debt the country would have to try to collect from Russia and expressed scepticism about recovery.
Neutrality concerns raised
He argued there is 'no security here' and said the measure 'brings us in the back door' into supporting military aid, a move he said undermines the country's entire neutrality.
Domestic cost pressures highlighted
O'Flynn listed domestic priorities he believes are being overlooked - 17,000 women and children currently on the streets, continuing USC charges, food prices up 7.6% this year, diesel priced at 1.70 and 1.69 per litre, rents up 97% in Dublin and up to 210% in parts of Blackpool and Cork over ten years - and asked 'when is enough enough?'
Aid and spending totals cited
He said the country has 'given over half a billion to the Ukraine' and named amounts from the discussion, including 173 million in humanitarian aid, 200 million in legal aid, and '1.8 to 1.4 billion in accommodation', using those figures to question resource priorities.
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Thank you. I suppose really looking at this and how the Minister has explained it, it's slightly incorrect. No, this is not just a humanitarian support loan, which we've given generously to. This is a loan that we're going to have to try and collect somehow from Russia that we're guaranteeing. I don't know how good luck with that, trying to collect something off the Russians if they lose. But, you know, the reality is that there's no security here. There's a huge problem when it comes to our own neutrality. It brings us in the back door, without a doubt, without a shadow of doubt, it brings us in the back door of supporting military aid into a country. And it undermines our entire neutrality. And I have to ask the question, Cown, when is enough enough? The cost of living inside this country is absolutely crazy. We have 17,000 women and children on the streets of this country at the moment without houses. We have USC charges that we were brought in and we were told, oh yeah, we're going to get rid of those in a couple of years. We're still paying those. Food is up by 7.6% this year. The price of a litre of diesel is 1.70. The price of a diesel is 1.69. You know, rents are up 97% in Dublin. And in parts of Blackpool and Cork, we have rents up in 10 years, up to 210. So when is enough enough? We've given over half a billion to the Ukraine. We have been very generous. We've been very decent. 173 million in humanitarian aid, 200 million in legal aid. And we've spent 1.8 to 1.4 billion in accommodation. Thank you. Deputy Lawless.
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