I welcome the many measures introduced in the budget to help people with the soaring cost of energy, namely, the electricity credit and the continuation of the reduced excise rate on petrol and diesel. The price of petrol and diesel is still hovering around €2 per litre depending on where you go. Those of us who live in Kerry go through many litres of petrol or diesel trying to get from A to B. Will the Government further examine assistance to motorists through a motor tax reduction, waiver or holiday? This is a particularly punitive charge for people who own older vehicles. Will that be re-examined? It was done during Covid-19 and could be done again because people are suffering at the pumps as a result of the prices.

I accept the point that there is huge pressure on motorists and people in general. All of these issues were examined in the context of the budget. The measures we took were designed to try to give people resources to deal with the energy costs. We have already subsidised petrol and diesel to a certain extent with the measures we took earlier in the year. However, we keep everything under constant review.