On the watch of this Government, workers and families have been put to the pin of their collars. Yesterday, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul warned that many are being forced to take out loans or get help from charities to cover school costs and so-called voluntary contributions. The Government has failed to do anything to tackle sky-high energy costs, unlike other European countries, refused to introduce mortgage interest relief despite thousands of families paying thousands of euro more every year just to keep a roof over their heads, has done nothing to tackle price gouging by large retailers, which it has acknowledged. Tonight, in fact, the Government will increase the cost of putting petrol or diesel in the car for those on their way to work in the morning. When will we see a coherent plan from the Government to ensure household costs come down and stay down? How, in the middle of doing little to reduce other household bills, can the Government justify increasing the price of petrol and diesel at midnight tonight?

The Government is already recognising the challenges many face with the cost of living. For example, in June, an additional €100 payment per child will be available through a bonus child benefit payment, we are making a further increase in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, the hot school meal is being extended, we have made efforts to reduce school transport costs and an additional payment has been made available through the working family payment. Those are all things we have done. The finance Bill to which the Deputy referred will lead to an increase in excise duty tonight. It is being done because those excise reductions were brought in in an environment in which the prices of petrol and diesel were above €2.20, heading towards €2.30 and €2.40. As we speak, it is significantly less than that. Sinn Féin did not vote against the finance Bill that contains those excise changes so I ask that they do not come into the House today and suddenly discover a newfound concern about them.