The cost-of-living increases have pushed many families to the edge every week. VAT on hospitality has had a shockingly negative impact on businesses, with cafes, pubs and restaurants closing one by one, as our Government stands idly by, not even providing a sympathetic ear. On 31 March, the excise duty on fuel is going to jump the price of fuel up. For the working father and mother or elderly people who have to use their cars daily, petrol is going to increase in price from €1.74 a litre to €1.82 a litre, while diesel will increase from €1.76 a litre to €1.84 a litre. In Northern Ireland, petrol will then be 22 cent a litre cheaper and diesel will be 14 cent a litre cheaper. Filling stations will close due to this situation. Motorists in the South will not be able to afford this huge increase. Will the Minister work with the relevant Minister to try to reverse the decision to end the motor fuel subsidy in five weeks? If not, the outcome will be detrimental to struggling businesses, to households already facing huge cost-of-living increases and to the survival of businesses in Border counties, as this change will result in a widespread moving of activity in this regard concerned with fuel and other commodities, like tourism, over the Border.

When a Government delivers a budget, it is important that there is a consistency and certainty of approach throughout the year. The Government unveiled a significant package of measures to assist with the cost-of-living crisis in respect of workers, families, children, older people and businesses. We continue to explore how we can help with various interventions but we have no current plans in this specific regard. I point out, however, that this Government has taken several measures to put money back into people's pockets, to reduce the cost of living and to help people with the costs of going about their lives.