We use Google Analytics to see which pages are read and how the site is used, so we know what to improve. This only runs if you accept. See our privacy notice for details.

Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Fuel price surge

Summary

Deputy Fitzmaurice warned that soaring diesel and petrol prices are forcing bus and lorry operators to reconsider contracts and asked whether action would be taken. The Tánaiste said the Government understood the pressure and would examine responses, including the treatment of excise for business users.

White diesel in Spain costs €1.55 today. In Ireland, meanwhile, the price quoted for green diesel, which goes into a tractor, is €1.40, kerosene is €1.35, white diesel is between €1.85 and €2, in some places around Dublin, and petrol has gone up to €2.05. I understand that we have reserves in Cork. Are we going to do something about this situation? I got 11 calls from bus drivers yesterday who tendered with the Department of Education to bring children to school. They are throwing their contracts back because there is no surcharge on them. Lorry drivers are also parking lorries. An explosion is about to happen in the next week or two if something is not done by the Government. I am asking what is going to be done about this situation, whether it is impacting farmers using green diesel or people who need home heating oil. I do not want to hear about fuel allowances and everything like that. I am talking about people who do not qualify for those schemes and who are working every day. It costs €40 an hour in diesel to run a lorry. We are talking about food prices and people in this context. I want to know what the Government is going to do about this in the next week, because ferocious frustration is being experienced by the public.

Comment on this

I thank the Deputy. He is over time. I call the Tánaiste.

Comment on this
Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I completely understand what the Deputy is saying, as does the Government. The prices of diesel and petrol have soared in recent weeks. We saw increases as a consequence of the pandemic but we are now seeing further increases on top of that, as a result of the war in Ukraine, that had not been anticipated or predicted by anyone. We will have to respond to this. When it comes to business users, as was mentioned, they can reclaim the VAT, but they cannot reclaim the excise charge. That is one of the things we must examine and one of the things we will discuss at the ministerial meeting on Ukraine this afternoon.

Comment on this