Mattie McGrath: accuses government of 'power grab' on energy
Mattie McGrath criticised the government's handling of the energy crisis, accusing it of a 'power grab' and saying it does not care about the people. He urged reopening LNG facilities and reactivating peat plants, and blamed policy choices and carbon taxes for business failures.
Main accusation
McGrath said he had been warned about a threat 15 months earlier and criticised the Taoiseach for promising investigations rather than action. He characterised official responses as meandering and accused leaders of setting up inquiries while failing to address the underlying crisis.
Impact on households and companies
He warned that rising energy costs have forced many companies, including energy firms, out of business and said the government could not "keep up with the increases." McGrath blamed prior votes for higher carbon taxes and related policies, saying those who supported them cannot now complain about the consequences.
Suggested energy measures
McGrath called for immediate practical steps - reopening Barney Row, restarting LNG capacity including Shannon LNG, and reactivating peat plants. He pointed out that a peat plant dismantled in Lainsborough is now functioning in Poland and said Ireland is effectively importing peat plants from abroad.
Rhetoric and criticism of policymakers
He accused the government of prioritising international meetings - noting a large global meeting on the 24th of the month - and said ministers attend while ignoring domestic hardship. McGrath used strong language to condemn current policy-makers, arguing their actions amount to putting power and projects above ordinary people and called for accountability from those shaping energy policy.
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This is unbelievable and it's bizarre but I think you're trying to literally stare and perish to people and that's what you're trying to do with the policies. I actually believe that now because you couldn't, kindergarten children wouldn't do what you're doing to cut off the plants or power supplies and then be trying to say that we have no ESP. Eirgway told our group 15 months, 16 months ago, sorry 15 months ago that there was a threat. The Taoiseach after his meandering around Bale and Le Blanc came up and said we were going to set up an investigation. He'd go down history for setting up more investigations and inquiries and whatever else that to see why the energy crisis, that we didn't know about it. This is part of global world and the 24th of this month there's another big global meeting and I'm sure that Minister Coveney and others will be attending it as their representatives. And to hell with the people, it's all a power grab and you don't care about the people. I used to say the little people or the poorer people but all the people of our country now, we're supposed to stop it in government here and I was bothering you every day now is Ukraine and Europe. And to hell with our people, to hell with our people, to hell out the connect is back again in style. You just couldn't keep up with the increases. Many, many companies have gone out of it, energy companies have gone out of it. And here we are rubbing our hands tonight. Parties that voted all of them here for more carbon tax and for carbon tax and voted for more of it. And now they're whinging. You can't have it both ways. You can't have it both ways. If you vote for these issues and you vote from here for your pet projects, you'll see where it goes. You'll see where it ends up. I'm saying, open up Barney Row again. The LNG and Shannon LNG, get that going again. And reactivate our peat plants. Imagine peat plants in Lainsborough was dismantled and is now functioning in Poland. And we're importing peat plants from Poland and other countries. As I said, the White Coat men should come along here and pick up a few of the people here that are making these policies.
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