I stood with the people yesterday, and I voted no confidence in the Government. People protesting over fuel prices appreciate that the Irish Government is not responsible for the international crisis. People were protesting because when a crisis occurs, they expect their Government to have their backs. Twice now, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, alongside the so-called Independents, have made an absolute hames of it, and the country is so disappointed in them. They could have cut diesel by the maximum amount possible, but they did not. They could have removed excise, including the carbon tax on home heating oil, but they did not. That is where that frustration is coming from. People are struggling to heat their homes. Farmers, hauliers and coach operators simply cannot afford to absorb this shock within already very slim margins. The frustration has already been fostered by the Government because even for the paltry measures it has taken, it had to be brought kicking and screaming into this Chamber. Petrol and diesel are set to hit record prices, and home heating oil is already there. Energy credits have been pulled for over 300,000 households already in arrears on electricity bills. There has been a €1,400 cut for people with disabilities, who are not getting their energy credits. Despite the miserable measures, does the Minister think the people have it easy? The time for half measures is long past. If the Government wants farmers to be able to produce food, hauliers to be able to bring food to our villages and bus operators to bring people to the shops, then we need the Government to stand up and stand with the people. Sinn Féin has outlined how we could achieve the cuts to fuel prices that we have advocated for. The question for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil TDs is: why not?

Sentiment score: -0.16