"He is so far removed from reality it's not even funny."
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has slammed Eamon Ryan, arguing that the Green Party is actively causing more problems for the environment in Ireland than solving them.
Debate has raged in recent weeks regarding a prospective ban on the sale of commercial turf, with a motion set to be brought before Dáil Éireann in the coming days.
Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has pointed to "huge misinformation and disinformation" on the issue, insisting that rural communities will not be adversely affected as a result of the ban.
Speaking on
The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk on Monday, Kerry representative Michael Healy-Rae accused Ryan of backtracking on the matter.
"I wish to make it quite clear that, personally, I'm sure that Eamon Ryan is a very nice man," Healy-Rae began.
"A very polite man, a very cordial man. But, actually at this stage, he and the Green Party are an encumbrance and a hindrance to the environmental movement because they make such a blunder and mess out of all of the proposals that they come along and make."
Healy-Rae said that Ryan was "upsetting the whole country" by announcing the turf ban without first implementing a proper consultation process at Government level, and that this was "obviously a very foolish thing to do" that led to a natural backlash.
"It goes along the lines of the introduction of wolves into Ireland, the planting of lettuce on our south-facing windowsills, shorter showers, not washing ourselves as much, slowing down in our motorcars – these type of suggestions, they actually discredit the Green Party," Healy-Rae added.
Put to him that advice and measures such as lowering speed limits and turning down the heating are endorsed across Europe – "it's not Eamon Ryan being dotty or daft," noted Pat Kenny – Healy-Rae responded:
"I never used the word 'dotty' or 'daft' or I wouldn't, but I might use the word 'not in touch with reality' and I might use the word 'far-removed from the electorate that he is supposed to represent'."
Taking issue with Minister Ryan's proposal that small rural communities of under 500 people will be exempt from the ban, Minister Healy-Rae added:
"When you hear of these sort of suggestions, it shows that he is so far removed from reality it's not even funny," he said.
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