I raise the enormous impact the war taking place in Iran is having on the day-to-day lives of people across the country. I will speak to the impact it is having in Wexford. I was contacted by a constituent who had agreed to purchase a lorry load of home heating oil for her house about three weeks ago and had paid upfront for it. The date it would arrive was agreed with the delivery company. Two days before it was due to arrive, she was asked to pay an extra €800 to ensure the delivery was made. Unfortunately, this story is becoming far too common. The small print in the contract apparently says customers pay the price on the day the oil is to be delivered, not the price on the day they purchase the oil. As a Government, we have to ensure people in situations like this are protected and to introduce measures to ensure they are not put at risk of fuel poverty by the war in Iran and the difficulties in getting oil out through the Strait of Hormuz. I listened carefully last night to the debate in the Lower House, where the Tánaiste said the Government is considering a range of proposals that would be targeted at those most in need.

The current fuel allowance, which is to expire shortly, should be extended. It is targeted at the most vulnerable in society and is an important payment enabling people to purchase fuel throughout the winter. I strongly suggest it should be extended, perhaps for seven to eight weeks, and then looked at thereafter. Recent measures have eased the fuel allowance means test, bringing more people into the eligibility net. It is important that this much-needed measure, at this time of global uncertainty in oil markets, should be extended. I encourage the Leader to take that point back to the Government; I will certainly be doing that within my own party.