Fuel excise and petrol prices
Deputy Griffin said fuel prices had risen again and asked for further excise reductions before the summer recess. The Minister said the Government had already made major reductions and would consider further measures in the budget.
As the Minister will know, the price of a litre of diesel and a litre of petrol at the pumps is up at around €2.15, €2.20 and, in some cases, even more. I very much welcome the Minister's intervention on 9 March with the financial resolutions that were brought before the House. They made a very big difference at the time and were very important to people. Unfortunately, the prices have crept up again. There is nothing wrong with governments adjusting and adapting as things evolve. I ask the Minister to bring forward further financial resolutions between now and the summer recess to try to help hard-pressed motorists who are really feeling it at the pumps at the moment. It is very expensive for people to get from A to B. The right thing to do would be for the Government to react further and to do more to intervene.
Comment on this
We absolutely appreciate the huge challenges many are facing with the rising cost of living. Deputy Griffin will know the measures we have put in place to reduce excise are among the biggest excise reductions governments across Europe have put in place. My focus at the moment is on how we can support again and intervene again when we prepare and deliver the budget. I believe the budget is the right point at which we can put in place further measures. Of course, I will take on board the views Deputy Griffin has put forward.