I also wish the Taoiseach well for the future. As he will be aware, in just over ten days from now, the Government will push ahead with the first of four hikes in the cost of petrol and diesel over the next 12 months. The four increases will add around 15 cent per litre to the cost of petrol and around 12 cent on a litre of diesel. This has led to many people and consumer groups such as the Consumers Association of Ireland to suggest that this is punishing motorists and pushing up the costs of living, as higher fuel prices will have an effect on many other goods and services because of the impact on hauliers and their increased operational costs. It will also adversely impact agricultural contracting services and farmers, as farming is a fuel-intensive occupation. Will the Taoiseach consider postponing these increases until at least the next budget particularly in light of the fact that the current yield from VAT, excise duty and other levies on motor fuels amounted to around €6 billion last year?

I appreciate that prices at the pump are rising and that impacts commuters, motorists and many people in business, including hauliers. As Deputies will remember, we reduced these excise rates on a temporary basis at a time when prices were over €2 a litre and thankfully they are still well below that.

It would not be possible for the Government to reopen the budget now. There would be consequences down the line if we were to reopen the budget now. We will, of course, monitor prices over the next couple of months.