I wish to draw the Taoiseach's attention to what we spoke about earlier, namely, the increase in energy and fuel costs and how it is affecting society and the economy. On one side, you have marginalised people and people on limited incomes who cannot afford to pay for the fuel for their houses. They are making choices, as was said earlier, between food or being warm. Outside the gates today are the hauliers. The cost to them has not seeped down yet but it will be passed on to the general economy and those who are availing of the transport of goods to and from Europe or around the country. Jobs will be affected and so will individuals' lives unless the Government intervenes to provide appropriate supports for those who need them, especially during Christmas, and thereafter to address in a radical way the cost of diesel for hauliers.

There are two points there. As I said yesterday and today, we are monitoring this very closely and working out how best we can help to reduce household bills for people in terms of electricity. We are conscious also of the huge pressures on hauliers that have arisen due the general global increase in pricing caused by the economic rebound resulting from the relaxation of Covid measures throughout the summer and early autumn.