Mattie McGrath Condemns Carbon Tax Impact on Peat Communities
Mattie McGrath spoke on the government's just transition away from peat and the impact of the solid fuel carbon tax. He demanded firm assurances that the substantial revenue raised by the tax be returned to the communities and workers most affected by changes to peat extraction.
Tax revenue cited
Mattie McGrath noted that the solid fuel carbon tax, introduced in May 2013, has generated large sums. He cited £72 million raised from 2013 to 2017 and an additional £25 million in 2018, saying the total from that tax alone was just under £100 million, and pointed to further revenue from taxes on gas, kerosene and petrol.
Call for funds to return to peat communities
He called for firm assurances that the accumulated revenue will be pumped back into the communities most directly impacted by the government's plans for peat and bog extraction. McGrath argued that ordinary people who have spent their lives generating peat should benefit from any early exit arrangements.
Criticism of management and parliamentary votes
McGrath welcomed peat workers but criticised management as having been "very, very lax" and said they had ample time to prepare for the change. He also said amendments aimed at mitigating the carbon tax impact on small farmers and contractors were voted down in committee, signalling to him a lack of concern for rural constituencies.
Rural proofing and political tone
He stressed that promised rural proofing of legislation was not delivered, expressed surprise and disappointment with ministers he said represented rural constituencies, and insisted the truth about the effect on rural Ireland "is bitter, and it hurts." The speech carried a combative tone aimed at securing protections and compensation for rural workers and communities.
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I'm glad to have the opportunity to speak on this important matter this evening. There will be many people in the Midlands and lead beyond who will look on the government's plans around so-called just transition, away from solid fuel like peat, with a fair degree of concern, if not downright, alarm. I hope that whatever those plans are, with respect to an early exit from the peat for the existing generation, that they will benefit the ordinary people on the ground who have spent their lives generating peat from the bogs. We should not forget that since the Minister for Finance introduced a solid fuel carbon tax in May 2013, that enormous sums of revenue have been accumulated. For instance, we know that last year alone, the solid fuel carbon tax took in £25 million, the Minister. In fact, from 2013 to 2017, the solid fuel carbon tax raised £72 million, on top of £25 million from 2018. So where has all that money gone, I'd like to ask you? So that's just under £100 million for this tax alone. To say nothing of the additional amounts generated by the tax on gas, kerosene or petrol. What I want is firm assurances that this money will be pumped back into the communities, most directly impacted by the government's plans around peat extraction from bogs. I welcome the workers here this evening. And they have plenty of time, Board of Manon, not the workers, the management, to think of some innovative ways and different ways. They knew this was coming. And I think that they have been found very, very lax. And depending on the government, we can't depend on EFA and for rural Ireland. All you do is attack us in rural Ireland and take stuff away from us. If you'd leave us alone, we'd be happy. We'd carry on our own devices. But you're, you're, I'm careful, the business committee, or the finance committee today. And every amendment weighed down to try and mitigate against the carbon tax that went on small farmers and on fuel for contractors. You've voted them down. You don't care anything about side the pale. It's the posh boys and girls. Surprised at you, Minister of State, from Representative Offaly. Remind Minister Brewton, I know his wife's from Conmel, but other than that, you know nothing about rural Ireland and you don't care about it. And you're, you're, to hell out the connocks is your policy all the time. You're as bad as Cromwell was. Yes, indeed, you should be a rural. What do you mind? You've been a little from rural relations myself. I did, because you don't care anything about rural Ireland. I'm surprised at you, I said. I'm surprised with her, being for a rural constituency, to be part of this government. I'm just telling you the truth, and the truth is bitter, and it hurts. They don't care about rural Ireland, full stop. And we went into, when we talked in government talks for several weeks, we insisted that there'd be rural proofing would be every piece of legislation. Now, one syllable was rural proofed. All right, last round caller. Now, one syllable was The
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