A Waterford TD says the Minister for Transport and the Environment has lost the South East region.
Independent, Matt Shanahan, lashed out at the Green Party Leader, Éamon Ryan, during Leaders Questions in the Dáil yesterday,
He said Minister Ryan's green agenda needs to abandoned as he has failed to deliver:
"You're almost halfway through your government term, Minister, and the pattern is now set. We have seen you in action.
"We have seen what you really care about.
"At this point it is my view that you have lost the South East region, Minister, and that at the next election the voters of the South East will turn away from you and, more importantly, from your green agenda.
"The green movement received a mandate from the South East; 10% of the country has given you two of your Dáil seats.
"If the South East turns on you, Minister, it will not be because of climate change denial, but because of your failure to deliver on the mandate entrusted to you."
During the scathing dressing-down, Deputy Shanahan was particularly critical of funding for the N24 and Waterford Airport:
"The M24, pivotal route infrastructure for the South East was binned and an entirely preventable blood-price continues to be paid on the N24 and N25 for spending decisions made by your department and now by you, Minister.
"Waterford Airport is fighting for its life, closed off from regional airport funding of €160 million, which is being bunged largely into dysfunctional DAA outfits and disproportionately into Cork Airport."
In an interview after his Dáil speech, the Waterford TD also discussed the topic of the controversial turf ban.
He has described banning the sale of turf as 'draconian measures' on the part of the Environment Minister.
Éamon Ryan has said the state needs to tackle all smoky fuels in order to save lives from air pollution.
However, Deputy Shanahan believes a 'just transition' is needed instead of government proposals to bring in the ban.
He says the Minister doesn't understand the difficulties of people in rural Ireland when it comes to heating their homes:
"The Minister needs to get himself out of Dublin and he needs to come down and see how rural people live.
"I absolutely do not want to give support to any type of rural/urban divide here but it's obvious that the Minister is unaware of the problems of living in the regions of the country.
"There are people down there with fixed incomes, fixed pensions, very poor heating, very poor housing."
