We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has told the Dáil that eating salad is “good for you” and that cycling is not weird, in response to questions from an Independent TD.
Speaking during Leaders Questions this afternoon, Martin made the statement in response to Michael Collins, an Independent TD for Cork South West, who said that Transport Minister Eamon Ryan had made multiple “bizarre” announcements in recent months.
“Over the past few months, the Minister for Transport is making one bizarre announcement after another,” said Collins, before asking the Taoiseach about private bus companies availing of Government support to allow them to cut fares in rural parts of Ireland.
Collins referenced Ryan’s previous comments in the Dáil about growing windowbox salads and how people in rural Ireland should cycle to work rather than drive.
Ryan had previously told the Dáil in March 2020 during the initial stage of the Covid-19 crisis that Irish people should use their south-facing windowsills to grow salads in case of food supply shortages in later months.
“Let’s get every south-facing windowsill in this country and we’ll plant our seeds in the next week so that if there is any supply crisis in food in two or three months’ time when this really hits hard, we’ll have our salads ready to go.”
“Everyone’s home, every windowsill, all of us being part of the solution.”
Ryan is also a well-known cycling campaigner, who formerly co-owned the Belfield Bike Shop, and had previously called for rural areas to use carpooling rather than each owning a car.
He then walked back the comments, saying that his party did not want to restrict the use of cars in rural areas.
In response, Martin told the Dáil that “salads are good for you”.
“I don’t think it’s weird to enjoy a salad, I don’t think it’s weird to cycle either for that matter,” said the Taoiseach.
Collins had raised the issue of private bus operators being unable to cut their prices by 20% across the board, or by 50% for students.
“If it goes ahead, will have a disastrous effect in rural communities as no local commercial operators can avail of the 20% or 50% reductions,” said Collins.
In response, Martin said that it was easier to cut public transport due to current legislative frameworks, but it was more difficult to deal with private operators.
“I think it’s very important that we reduce public transport fees… It’s not as easy, in terms of the private transport issue and we will continue to look at that to see how we can be supportive,” said Martin.
Green Tea-seach
The continuing controversy over the proposed restrictions on the sale of turf was also raised in the chamber this afternoon, with Independent TD for Tipperary Mattie McGrath calling for a debate on agriculture and “all things rural”.
“We need a full debate on agriculture and on the attack that’s going on rural Ireland… ye are on a different planet,” said McGrath, adding Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s remarks to the Fine Gael parliamentary party that removing turf cutting would be like taking away wine from the French.
In response, Martin said that the taste of wine was more “berry-like” and that whiskey would be closer to peat, while calling for independent TD’s to “relax” on the turf issues.
Shouting across the chamber, McGrath said that Martin was “drinking too much green tea” and that it had gone to his head.
Earlier today, ahead of Cabinet, Martin said that a “pragmatic solution” could be found to the impasse around the restrictions on the sale of turf, while Minister Ryan confirmed that people could continue to cut turf for personal use.
“People will not be stopped from using their own turf, I don’t know how many times I have to say it in the House,” said Martin.
“It disappoints you that I say it because you want to believe that they will be, it’s a great campaign.
The substance of the issue is this: People who have their own bogs, no issue in terms of using turf. They can share turf with their neighbours, the traditional practices in relation to turf will continue.
He added that the measures will not be implemented ahead of this winter.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Sweet Mother of God. Greens are finished at next election and just like Labour they will never recover
@Maurice O Neill: Well the opposition did make f00ls of themselves with some the comments today. All they did was isolate anyone that does anything that could be considered “green” I know plenty guys who cycle and walk to work….but not for any green reasons. Now, that said, the Greens need to cop themselves on a bit because any policies they introduce are badly thought out, such as the Carbon tax when there is no alternative to the ICE vehicle in rural areas, and the latest of cutting bus fares outside Dublin, again no good in Rural areas and the place that would benefit the most is exempted.
@Joe_X: We are waiting 6years for an EV charge point to be installed in a local Shopping Center that should have been done under 2016 planning condition and when I contacted Ministers office he said he can’t get involved in planing matters . Same with local council . Keep passing the buck
@Joe_X: Why can’t ICE vehicles be used in rural areas?
@Maurice O Neill: and not a day too soon to see the end of them. How about eating a salad while you cycle ? :) The greens are such a waste of space. They only ever enter government for the power & of course the dosh.
@Maurice O Neill: yeah, they want us all to go electric but have you ever seen the amount of minerals needed to be mined to build an electric car ? Saw an article recently & they’re far from green. Also read a report of one that broke down on the side of the road a few months ago. There’s no seperate fuel cell for lights & once the power goes everything is gone. This person who reported it nearly crashed into it as it was by the side of the road & there’s no way of leaving lights on as a warning. He also said they can’t be towed or pushed (open to correction on this one). They’re not going to get as many as they want to make the switch at that rate. The charging infrastructure is not where it needs to be either. Add to that the price of the majority of them is out of reach for most people
@Declan Moran: After the Greens have gone, we’ll still have to reduce fossil fuels (more cycling, more cycle lanes, more electric cars), the price of energy wiil continue to rise (drive slower and have shorter showers) , and we’ll probably have to stop cutting turf (EU directive). No Eamonn makes no real difference to what we’ll have to do.
@Declan Moran: vast majority of car manufacturers are moving to a fully electric fleet by 2030-35 at the latest, so there won’t be an option. Personally I don’t get the green bashing, agree their ideas are ill thought out, but the reality is change is coming, so perhaps offering viable alternative solutions rather than just opposing change is the way forward
@Mickey Finn: Yes but if the Greens get punished for forcing through laws that the country does not have the infrastructure to support, eg the carbon tax, maybe the next crew will think twice before doing the same. That is the Greens biggest problem, plus the fact their leader is giving smart alec responses to any criticism leveid against the Green Party.
@Peter Hanley: what do you mean? For most rural dwellers, ICE vehicles are the only option.
@Padraig O’M: you hit the nail right on the head there. We all know change is coming, and nobody is denyjng it. But it is the ill thought out ideas of the Greens are what is leading to the “green bashing” as you call it.
For example they forced through a carbon tax, but the country was not ready for it. The Rural areas still are not, and nany would debate the readiness of the urban areas, as the EV charging network is not good enough and the public transport network is worse than it was 50 years ago, forcing people to rely on their ICE and therefore they are forced into paying the carbon tax because there is no viable alternative.
@Maurice O Neill:
This Country is going down the tubes fast. Emergency Powers that Government had under COVID were hopefully a once off and will never surface again for other issues. If Government are considering legislation to restrict right to hold vigils outside Medical Facilities then I’m afraid we are in for a long contentious period which we probably won’t recover from
@Maurice O Neill: there will always be a need for such powers at times. Covid was just one such example but emergency laws were initiated during the 2nd world war (at least to my knowledge.) It has happened before, it will happen again.
@Maurice O Neill: grow up with your vigils. Your there to b4lly women.
@Maurice O Neill:
Plenty of children in adoption centres if you were really so concerned, instead of virtue signalling.
@Dave Connolly: Hopefully your comment will be taken down shortly . Don’t you dare judge me on a forum that’s there to here all views
@Maurice O Neill: Different subject and those vigils are intimidating. There is one aim behind them and one only and that is to make people who are going to a medical appointment feel threatened and worthless.
If you want to pray then by all means do so there are plenty of religious institutions and places you can. Rather than try and scare people.
If ypu speak out against some of the most unchristen type of response is the norm.
@Dean: What are you on about . Elaborate please
@Maurice O Neill: He made a fair point, you went off topic.
@Gary Kearney: Freedom to express your beliefs and practice your religion in a public place is right under the constitution
@Gary Kearney: I did not . Everything is relevant with the powers this Government granted itself under COVID . What I am pointing out is the sheer brass neck of Politicians in this Country to assume that the public can be submissive to anything they try. Turf is just one of many where we have said enough
@Maurice O Neill: @Dave Connolly: Hopefully your comment will be taken down shortly . Don’t you dare judge me on a forum that’s there to here all views
Hear all views but you want his comment removed for judging you. The free speech brigade are never long about showing what they actually mean.
@Maurice O Neill: like you judge women. Just because your imaginary friend commands it?
@Dave Connolly: I never mentioned women in my comment . You did
@Liam Edward Harris: Look at what he said . Keep a discussion civil
@Maurice O Neill: cheapest rent in Ireland. Living in your head.
@Maurice O Neill:
“Don’t you dare judge me on a forum that’s there to here all views”
How you going to stop us judging you?
With a vigil and some placards?
You put that stuff out there willingly. Free speech works both ways…and it doesn’t shield you from the consequences of saying dumb stuff
@Dave Connolly: the rent is cheap because of the bats in there.
@Maurice O Neill: So it’s only men you and your sanctimonious rosary rattling buddies want to intimidate outside medical facilities.
@Maurice O Neill: People on this forum are judging each other all the time. Part of the fun. Doesn’t mean you can’t share your views.
@Maurice O Neill: That’s quite true. However, doing it in such a manner that it intimidates, threatens and obstructs people of going about their lawful business isn’t constitutionally protected but potentially prosecuted by the DPP and for good reason.
You don’t win friends with salad….
Eamonn Ryan drives to work in his big diesel car
@Pauline Cahill: If that is true, he is causing less pollution by doing so, according to Volvo. It is more environmentally friendly to drive a diesel up to 100,000km. https://autobuzz.my/2021/11/15/volvo-says-manufacturing-an-ev-generates-70-more-emissions-than-its-ice-counterpart/
The country is done and dusted when you hear your tayshock agree with the boyo Ryan to grow lettuce in all your south windows and ride a bike from cork to Dublin more or less.
Imagine having such a clear cut case to make, against such a clear cut !d!ot like Ryan, to a such a clear cut !d!ot like Martin … and ya end up making a f00l of no one but yourself? Everyone in there is beyond useless.
Poor auld Eamonn Ryan, saving the planet and preserving our environment is a noble crusade indeed. But this poor clown has turned more people against green planet saving policies with his well meaning but ill thought out and catastrophically badly implemented plans. You’d almost feel sorry for him.
The Green Fianna Fáil party
Eamonn Ryan. Please resign.
They are strange some salads and as for turf
Just wait until 16 year olds are allowed to vote….. The Green Party dream.
So rural people can’t use public transport because it’s too expensive but when the price is reduced it’s “unfair on local operators”? Do the Healy Raes have a bus business too?
Eating salads and cycling sound a far cry from i ireland i remember, a gluttonous 12 pints of guiness friday followed by dirty greasy rasher and fat sausage saturday.
@François Pignon: Student diet? Times change ;-)
have your say