As the Leader knows, I have stood many times in this Chamber and argued and advocated to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel. I stood in Foynes for five days with the protesters. I want to focus on home heating oil today. There was a debate in the Dáil yesterday and my colleague, Deputy Doherty, brought legislation through.

Home heating oil has never been reduced. Not one cent has ever come off it. It disproportionately affects rural Ireland because in rural Ireland, there is no other choice. There is no gas network. People cannot hook up to a grid. A lovely lady came into my office last week who I am going to call "Margaret". She lives in County Limerick. She has an adult child with disabilities. She runs her house on home heating oil but she has no immersion switch. Her home heating oil has to do all year for hot water and heat. As Members can imagine, when people have a child with disabilities, they need a little bit extra in the house. I am quite happy to wrap a blanket around myself if I get cold, but some people need it. They have to have that heat even just for running a bath. The oil is on all the time to heat the water, wash the dishes, run a bath and heat the home. She cried in my office because she just cannot afford to put any more oil into her house. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see this.

I am asking and pleading. There is still time because the vote in the Dáil is not until this evening. I ask the Leader to go to the Government TDs and backbenchers, the Minister's backbenchers and Independents, and ask them to just do the right thing. I have heard about how the budget is in two weeks’ time. I really hope something is done in the budget, but I would also hope that if something is to be done in the budget - it is only two weeks away - we tell the people so that they do not go and spend every penny they have in the bank today getting oil because it is nearly gone. Tell them that in two weeks’ time, there is going to be a reduction. I have a feeling it is not going to be enough. I plead with the Leader today to do the right thing. How can he go back to his constituency on Thursday evening or Friday and say, "I am sorry; you are still going to pay". A fill of oil went up €80 overnight. It just cannot keep going up. People cannot afford it. Again, I am sorry; it is disproportionate when it comes to rural Ireland because there is no other choice.