Danny Healy-Rae: Rejects Climate Change Measures, Defends Rural Motorists
Danny Healy-Rae spoke against climate and transport measures, saying he does not subscribe to the notion of climate change and calling the proposals a "savage attack" on people in rural Ireland. He argued the measures unfairly target motorists, households dependent on oil or solid fuel, farmers, contractors, hauliers and passenger bus operators and rejected attempts to force people to buy electric cars.
Critique of climate policy
Healy-Rae stated that he does not accept the notion of climate change and declined to endorse the policy direction implied by the debate. He described the measures as a "savage attack" on rural people and questioned the overall premise behind the changes.
Impact on rural motorists and households
He emphasised that the measures penalise people who own cars, including older vehicles that are legally roadworthy and tested. He argued the proposals would also hit households that rely solely on oil, briquettes or coal for heating, and would adversely affect those with no alternative heating options.
Effect on farmers, contractors and transport operators
Healy-Rae warned the proposals would restrict farmers who need tractors to work their land and would burden planters, agricultural contractors, hauliers and passenger bus operators who rely on fuel and vehicles for their livelihoods. He framed these sectors as being disproportionately affected by the measures under discussion.
Concerns about electric vehicles and batteries
He expressed scepticism about electric cars as a practical option for rural Ireland, saying that if they were a true alternative people would buy them. He raised environmental and safety concerns about batteries, arguing that producing and disposing of them creates carbon and can be dangerous in accidents, and noted objections to battery storage in other contexts.
Political stance and constituency pledge
Healy-Rae made clear he will vote against deals he sees as contrary to his constituents' interests, saying he will not make deals with other parties like the Labour Party and that he will answer only to the people he represents in Kerry. He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to put his constituents first in the matter.
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Eh, last young caller. First of all, I don't subscribe to this notion of climate change. The climate change ever, going back in history's pages, I won't go into that, but that's well known and that's a fact. This is a savage attack on people in rural Ireland who own a car, maybe an old car, even though they're tested and everything and ready for the road and legally on the road. It's an attack on the people, all people who have no other way of heating, their homes only with oil or briquettes or coal. It's an attack on farmers who can't store or move around at all or do anything at all in their farms on their land without a tractor. It's an attack on planter and contractors and agricultural contractors. It's an attack on hauliers and passenger bus operators. It's an attack and this is trying to force people to buy electric cars. And if electric cars were the real deal that they're supposed to be, I know that the people of Ireland aren't fools. I know that the people of rural Ireland aren't fools and that they would buy electric cars if they were a real option, but they're not. And just one of the things, the battery, it's creating more carbon to make it and to dispose of it. And it is actually a danger to the people who drive them if they have an accident. These are the batteries that people objected to in wind farms being stored out in the open far away. So I don't subscribe to this and I will be voting. I'll make no deal like the Labour Party did. I'll make no deal with anyone, only the constituents that I represent in Kerry. They're the people that I'll make my deal with. Thank you very much. Thank you.
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