In just over three weeks' time TDs and Ministers will go on holiday. They will not be back in the Chamber until the middle of September. That is not news to anyone but what will surprise people is that on 31 July, while they are all away and the Dáil is in recess, the Government will restore excise duties on petrol and diesel. Last week the Government voted to increase the cost of fuel by 27 cent on petrol and 32 cent on diesel. This will place immense pressure on households that are already struggling to get by. Prices in Ireland are 36% above the EU average and the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland has warned that the inflation shock will worsen in the coming months because of the war in Iran.

Budget 2027 must be revolutionary because every time the Government talks about disability support, fuel price reduction or the cost of living it tells us to wait and see what the budget will bring. From what I can see, the Government likes to get a nice headline for introducing temporary financial support and then when people have received the tiniest bit of breathing space, it pulls the rug from under them. This cannot be allowed to happen. It is not a coincidence that ahead of the vote on excise duties and increasing carbon taxes in October, both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste came out in support of removing the three-day wait. I feel it was a "look over there" move while they do this. The story on fuel prices being increased was buried under articles of backbenchers being unhappy with the Taoiseach and speculation on who in Fine Gael would follow the Tánaiste's lead. The timing of the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach having this epiphany is questionable. It is insincere of the Government to impose an increase in fuel prices while they are off on holidays and cannot be held to account by the public. Restoring excise duties and increasing carbon tax is wrong. I ask that we have statements in this House on that matter.