Can the Taoiseach explain to every household in Ireland why, in the middle of a pandemic and a national fuel crisis, the Government has raised taxes on fuel and is now getting €1 per litre? Why were taxes on fuel not capped in order that, if there were a fuel increase, people would only be paying for the increase and not any extra tax? We are paying an extra 19 cent per litre in tax in the past 12 months, which means every household in Ireland is paying €10.75 in tax out of every €100 of fuel. The farmers and people in the truck industry are on their knees. This week, they are all going out to protest because of the Government's failure to protect the people of Ireland. Every member of the Government should resign his or her position. Every one of the Government backbenchers and Ministers backed this extra tax we are paying. Since 2020, the State is getting an extra 19 cent per litre.

Thank you, Deputy. The time is up.

The Government needs to cap the tax and get rid of the percentage it is charging.

The time is up, Deputy, please.

The tax must be capped. We will pay a fuel increase but we will not pay a tax on the fuel increase.

Deputy, restrain yourself, please. The Taoiseach to reply.

First, we represent all the people and we have to raise revenue generally to provide for education, our health services and social protection. That is why tax exists. I accept that, because of global developments principally, fuel prices have gone up very high. That is why we brought in and increased the fuel allowance.

The tax was also increased.

I did not interrupt the Deputy.

Will you stop shouting, Deputy O'Donoghue?

Hold it one second, Deputy. I have also said in this House that the Government is looking at measures to help householders further to reduce their household bills in respect of electricity bills that are a consequence of increased energy costs.

How are they going to get to work to pay it?

That is something the Government is actively considering.