Speeches by Robinson.

“Are you saying that the announcement that was made last Tuesday was already there and it is, in real terms, less than what was there the previous year?”

“Mr Pang, what engagement have you had with Government, either in Northern Ireland for the Road Haulage Association or yourselves here in London with Whitehall?”

“At the moment there is an issue around red diesel, which I raised with the Chancellor six weeks ago. Red diesel can be used agriculturally off road, and I think with the ability to travel on road for about 15 miles. I was told that the reality of that is that, for contractors moving from field to field to assist with s…”

“David, you might not feel it, but from your perspective, unlike the other gentlemen, there has been some Government intervention on home heating oil across the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland disproportionately benefited, but it is not a huge amount. I think you can acknowledge that, as can I. What are you calling…”

“It is important that we know that engagement is happening. Thank you. William, what engagement have you had?”

“How important was it for your members to hear the Agriculture Minister on the radio last Tuesday encouragingly say that there was £236 million available to support with this crisis?”

“You do not get the benefit of the agricultural relief if you are dual-use.”

“Just to be clear, the announcement that was made last Tuesday is not an announcement at all.”

“Do you sanction suppliers? Do you have that within your power as a regulator? Have you done it in the past?”

“Sadly, it is required. Pat, this is required only because people at the front end of the process are suffering, and people in fuel poverty suffer exponentially more. Are you concerned about the sorts of practices that you hear of, with consumers being told they are going to have a reduced price, but then having signifi…”

“You do not get the benefit of the agricultural relief if you are dual-use.”

“I spoke to a taxi driver last week who just indicated to me that personally, as a self-employed person, he was spending £500 more per month to keep his car on the road. One of my colleagues was speaking to a gentleman who was delivering animal feed as a haulier, and he said their small firm operating in Tyrone was payi…”

“Thank you. That is quite stark.”

“That brings me to a point I think you were trying to open up earlier, which is what Government can do and the outlier impact. You say “outlier”; a number of European countries have brought forward support packages, for example. Hauliers have been the beneficiary. Agriculture has been a beneficiary of that. Consumers ha…”

“William, there was a hiatus last Tuesday, really, but what support do you envisage coming forward, either at Northern Ireland Executive level or in Whitehall?”

“At the moment there is an issue around red diesel, which I raised with the Chancellor six weeks ago. Red diesel can be used agriculturally off road, and I think with the ability to travel on road for about 15 miles. I was told that the reality of that is that, for contractors moving from field to field to assist with s…”

“David, you might not feel it, but from your perspective, unlike the other gentlemen, there has been some Government intervention on home heating oil across the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland disproportionately benefited, but it is not a huge amount. I think you can acknowledge that, as can I. What are you calling…”

“You said there September, October and November. When we met five weeks ago, when we were talking about resolution within a week or two, you were saying this would stretch well into the autumn. We are now five weeks on and there is still no sign of a resolution. You said autumn five weeks ago; are you now saying autumn …”

“That brings me to a point I think you were trying to open up earlier, which is what Government can do and the outlier impact. You say “outlier”; a number of European countries have brought forward support packages, for example. Hauliers have been the beneficiary. Agriculture has been a beneficiary of that. Consumers ha…”

“I spoke to a taxi driver last week who just indicated to me that personally, as a self-employed person, he was spending £500 more per month to keep his car on the road. One of my colleagues was speaking to a gentleman who was delivering animal feed as a haulier, and he said their small firm operating in Tyrone was payi…”