Mattie McGrath accuses EU, US of 'virtue signaling' on $60 oil cap
Mattie McGrath criticised the $60 cap on Russian crude as 'virtue signaling' by the EU and US and accused the minister of prioritising European globalists over Irish interests. He warned the government repeatedly yields to EU demands without consulting the people, citing past banking decisions and current energy concerns.
Criticism of the $60 cap
He called the UKAP $60 price cap on Russian crude nothing more than virtue signaling, arguing the price was already below €60 when the cap was announced and suggesting the move was driven by pre-Council posturing.
Accusations against the minister
He told the minister that these are "more games" and accused him of honouring "European globalists friends" rather than representing voters, saying the minister always complies with EU requests and asking rhetorically how high he will jump.
Banking decisions and regret
He revisited past banking interventions, stating he voted for the bank guarantee and called it "the biggest mistake I ever made," and saying he did not vote for the bailout, which he described as a wholesale "clean-out" that left Ireland bearing 42% of the total EU debt.
Energy prices and pumps
He noted that global oil prices had fallen due to a weakening global economy, lockdowns in China and OPEC production decisions, and said motorists are seeing relief at the pumps, but argued the political "games" around pricing should end.
Concerns over Ukraine and public consultation
He warned the minister may sign up to measures on Ukraine or elsewhere without consulting the public and said voters will hold leaders to account, urging that the minister should represent the Irish people rather than European globalists.
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The UKAP at 60 US dollars, a battle on Russian Isle, is nothing more by virtue signaling for the EU and US states. Why? Because the price of Russian Crude Isle was already below 60 Euro battle on Monday when the cap was announced. So Minister, more games. The people are sick and tired of this. Here we go again, pre-Council statements, where you go out and you honour your European globalists friends. I said it and I repeat it. I said it and I repeat it. You're as good as any of the rest of them. Good as any of the rest of them. And that's all you want, not what the people of Ireland want. People can see through this. We're an educated electorate, thankfully, and they can see every move you make. And every time you're asked to jump by the EU, as I said, your globalist friends, you say, how high. We saw it last week here when we were the president, so we're all welcomed. But, I mean, why was he here? Just more virtue signaling. And more, you know, talking up the great EU. Where were they when a bank bailout? Where were our friends? God, they proved it that time, didn't they? And I was in the same party as you that time. You voted for the bailout. I didn't. But as I said, it was shocking. I voted for the bank guarantee. Biggest mistake I ever made. I told you that. I didn't vote for the bailout because it wasn't a bailout. It was an absolute clean-out to the chair, an absolute clean-out of the Irish people, where we took 42% of the total EU debt. And, as I said to President van der Leyen, it was one of her own countries, banks in those countries and institutions, that shoved the money in here. And then left us to pay back debt for all the countries. It's the biggest mistake we ever made. I said. Oddly, the price of 10 comes at a capital time when global oil prices have dropped directly due to the weakening global economy and ongoing lockdowns in China and the OPEC group's decision to maintain steady oil production levels. So, the pumps, we can all see it with our eyes. And thankfully, there is relief to pumps at the moment because the games are going on and the games should be over as far as I'm concerned. So, Minister, as I said, you're going out this week. God knows what you won't sign up to for Ukraine or anywhere else, with no consultation of the people, but when you go back to meet the people, they'll be waiting for you in the long grass and they'll teach you that you're supposed to represent the Irish people, not the European globalists. Thank you.
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