Michael Healy-Rae: Secures Fuel Relief for Farmers and Contractors

This is my response to the government's announcement of new reliefs with regard to the high cost of fuel. Over the last couple of days I've listened to a lot of criticism of me and what have I been doing. Today is a culmination of work and input that I had from the sector that I was elected to represent and that I'm working for in the Department of Agriculture. What has happened now in this announcement? There is real meaningful support. But I want to be very clear about this. For instance, farming. There's a specific package of 20 million a month for five months for farmers, active farmers who are working and using green diesel. There's an active scheme there that's going to be very beneficial to contractors. This is a real and meaningful scheme for fishermen, for bus operators, an expanded scheme for haulage contractors which will take in very important people who to me were what I'd call smallage haulage contractors who were debarred in the past and who weren't able to avail of a scheme. There's going to be a new scheme for them. There's another decrease in the actual price at the pumps. So everybody is being catered for in this. I worked tirelessly along with my colleagues over the last number of days but I want to say this and I want to call out this for what it is. I've listened to criticism of people saying where was I that I wasn't at this protest. I was at a protest today in Killarney because it was my first time being able to be at a protest because I was at the meetings and I was fighting in the best way I could for the different sectors and for the people that I represent. I really appreciate the support that I have been given by people over the last number of days who have told me that they know I'm doing my level best but to hurlers on the ditch and to politicians who were standing being critical of me and saying oh what was I doing. Well I know exactly what I did. I know the work and the effort that I put into it which is what I'm there to do but I will ask one question of those people. The people that are in opposition who are critical of me and saying oh he should pull out a government. What have they done for the last number of days? They've stood and they've talked into their phones and they've put up posts but what have they actually done for people and I want people to be very clear this is a good scheme. It's a proper reaction. It's definitely you could call it late but it is there and it is meaningful. I'm glad to have played my part in it. A very active and real part and like I say while other people were staring into their phones and saying horrible things about me, politicians I'm talking about, they were doing nothing for you the people. I've delivered. I've done my best. I'll continue to do my best. I'm going to be asked this question over the next number of days. Am I going to vote confidence in the government? I'll tell you who I'm going to vote confidence in. I'm going to vote confidence in myself because I'm confident of the work that I'm doing for people in Kerry. I'm deeply committed to the people of Kerry. I'm deeply committed to being your servant to do my best for you at all times and I'm going to do that from within government from the position that I mean and the last time that I was canvassing looking for votes in Kerry people said to me you've been in opposition for a long time to deliver more meaningful to us you should go into government. Well I did that and I'm glad I went in because I'm delivering on roads. I'm delivering on housing. I'm delivering in health. They're going to be building inside in the hospital in Tralee for the next seven years and I played a very active part in every part of that and I'm going to continue doing it and whether it's the road down to Karas Iveen, whether it's the Calamity bypass, whether it's improved money for our secondary roads, whether it's the road through Karas Iveen town, I'm going to deliver and I'm going to do my best and while other politicians can be criticizing me from the sidelines while they're talking into their phones and putting up posts I'll be working and I thank you very much for that and I'm sorry for being cross but this is my first chance because I've been too busy working to give a proper post like this and to give a report of my work on this very important matter and I'm sorry that people had to go out protesting. I'm sorry it came to that but I've listened to you and I'll continue to work for you and thank you.