Danny Healy-Rae criticises government Ukraine spending amid cost crisis
Danny Healy-Rae criticised recent government spending on Ukraine while warning about rising domestic costs and called for protections for small businesses. He said he supports Ukraine's territorial sovereignty but questioned the scale of financial aid compared with pressures on Irish households and employers.
The deputy outlined a range of rising costs affecting employers and households, including increased rate costs, pension enrolment and auto-enrolment costs, higher wages, energy and electricity bills, and the price of petrol and diesel. He said employees and those on social welfare are struggling with the cost of living across the country.
He pointed to a recent government allocation of "125 more million to Mr Zelensky and the Ukrainians" and referenced "almost 6 billion" given over the last five years, asking how long such support can continue at current levels. He framed the transfers as coming from "all Irish taxpayers" and said the sums are being discussed outside the chamber by concerned citizens.
The deputy affirmed that supporting Ukraine is necessary because of an illegal invasion that has violated territorial sovereignty and international law, saying the country's people have suffered greatly. At the same time he questioned the balance between that support and domestic needs, urging scrutiny of further spending decisions.
He praised the minister for enterprise's insistence that any government memorandum must pass a small business test to keep costs down for firms. He also cited the reduction of VAT in the budget as sustaining "thousands of jobs" in towns such as Killarney (and Kilmere), and said he and some colleagues agree on the importance of protecting local businesses. He acknowledged disagreement from some opposition benches and addressed remarks to other deputies during the exchange.
Domestic cost pressures
The deputy outlined a range of rising costs affecting employers and households, including increased rate costs, pension enrolment and auto-enrolment costs, higher wages, energy and electricity bills, and the price of petrol and diesel. He said employees and those on social welfare are struggling with the cost of living across the country.
Concerns over Ukraine funding
He pointed to a recent government allocation of "125 more million to Mr Zelensky and the Ukrainians" and referenced "almost 6 billion" given over the last five years, asking how long such support can continue at current levels. He framed the transfers as coming from "all Irish taxpayers" and said the sums are being discussed outside the chamber by concerned citizens.
Support for Ukraine but fiscal questions
The deputy affirmed that supporting Ukraine is necessary because of an illegal invasion that has violated territorial sovereignty and international law, saying the country's people have suffered greatly. At the same time he questioned the balance between that support and domestic needs, urging scrutiny of further spending decisions.
Small business test and local impact
He praised the minister for enterprise's insistence that any government memorandum must pass a small business test to keep costs down for firms. He also cited the reduction of VAT in the budget as sustaining "thousands of jobs" in towns such as Killarney (and Kilmere), and said he and some colleagues agree on the importance of protecting local businesses. He acknowledged disagreement from some opposition benches and addressed remarks to other deputies during the exchange.
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Transcript
Minister, employers everywhere all over the country are struggling with increased rate costs, pension enrolment costs, auto enrolment costs and increased wage costs. Employees and people and social welfare are struggling with the cost of living and all the energy and electricity costs and indeed all are struggling with the cost of the road and petrol and diesel. And at the same time, last week here inside, we were able to, as a government, the government devoted 125 more million to Mr Zelensky and the Ukrainians. On top of the almost 6 billion that we have given them over the last five years supporting them here in this country. How long more can we keep supporting or giving out this kind of money? And if we give a million here or a million there to different sectors of our own community, it's discussed here inside in the chamber. That figure or those figures have never been discussed here inside yet they come from all Irish taxpayers. And you see people scratching their heads and they actually peg their heads, their hats at the government this week over this. And I'm hearing it all across every part of the county. Thanks Deputy Hillary. I'll go back to a comment that I made earlier about you. Me and you agree on most things, me and you don't agree on this. Support for Ukraine is something that we have to do to be honest about it. You can't have a situation where a country's territorial sovereignty is illegally invaded by a state like Russia and we don't support it. And I think most people, and I know deep down as well you agree with the same thing, we have to support them. I mean their lives have been made an utter and absolute misery by a state that has no regard for international law. But I do agree with you with regard to the small business test and increased costs, and that's why Minister Burke, who is Minister for Enterprise, has now insisted that any memorandum being brought to government with regard to any great idea that any of the 15 of us might have, has to pass the small business test in order to make sure that we keep costs on business down. And that's why in your local town of Killarney that I know and Kilmere, I'm sure they welcome the reduction of VAT in the budget because it has sustained thousands of jobs all over the country. I know some other people on opposition benches don't agree with it. I agree with it, I know you agree with it, because it sustains thousands of jobs in towns like Killarney. Thanks, Minister. Deputy Ahern. Thank you. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern. Deputy Ahern.