I raise the issue of the fuel crisis that is affecting everyone. We only have to look at community Facebook pages to see it. People are posting every day asking where the cheapest petrol or diesel is. It is not because they want a bargain: they are trying to stretch their wages just that little bit further every single day. They are searching for fuel that is a few cent cheaper, hoping it will make the difference between getting through the week or falling behind on their bills. A haulier rang me on Monday and said, "Sarah, no man can stick this." He is right. When fuel prices rise, everything else rises with it. Hauliers have no choice but to pass those costs on to retailers and the retailer has no choice but to pass those on to the customers. In the end it is ordinary families who pay the price as per usual. Recently, we heard a Government representative on the radio saying that people are confused about the increase in carbon tax and that petrol and diesel are not going up in May, only home heating oil. What he failed to mention is that the carbon tax is set to increase every single year. While it might not hit petrol and diesel this month, people can expect prices to rise again later this year, again next year, and the year after that.

Fuel is not a luxury; it is a staple. People need it to get to work, to bring their children to school and to run their businesses. Aontú was the only party to vote against carbon taxes because we knew this policy would pile further pressure on people who are already struggling. It was a punitive tax and a punishment tax. With 60% of the price of fuel being tax, the Government cannot pretend that its hands are tied here. Right now families are being forced to dig deeper into their pockets and simply suck it up. We do not need platitudes sympathising with people's struggles. We need tangible help for people and we need the Government to cut the taxes on fuel.