I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026— (a) by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act: "SCHEDULE 2 RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX ", and (b) by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2A to that Act (as amended by section 27(2)(d) of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)): "SCHEDULE 2A Carbon Charge ". (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). In accordance with what the Ceann Comhairle said, I will later move the other two financial resolutions. I will begin by outlining the detail of the most recent actions which have been taken by the Government to endeavour to support people through what is an extraordinarily challenging time and an extraordinary energy shock. These decisions that we are putting before the Dáil this evening will reduce the cost burden at the petrol pump, support those most at risk of energy poverty and assist key sectors that are critical to keeping our economy moving. Financial Resolution No. 1 provides for the extension of the excise rate reductions which were introduced in March and which are due to run until 31 July. It also introduces a further reduction in excise rates, bringing the overall level of excise reduction to 30 cent per litre for auto diesel, 25 cent per litre for petrol and 5.4 cent per litre for marked gas oil, MGO, in addition to the specific agricultural package that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, has brought in. All of these are on a VAT inclusive basis with the reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy pending further relief. Financial Resolution No. 1 defers the 1 May carbon tax increase on MGO, kerosene, heating oil and other relevant fuels until 14 October next. Financial Resolution No. 2 provides for the deferral for the planned 1 May increase on natural gas carbon tax, also until 14 October. Financial Resolution No. 3 provides for the delay of a planned 1 May increase on solid fuel carbon tax, also until 14 October. As we stated at the outset of our response to this fuel crisis, our initial package of measures in March was temporary and targeted. At the time, we also stated that it was a first step and that the Government would continue to monitor and review this situation on an ongoing basis and would respond further as required. There has been much engagement between then and now, and then and the Easter period with representative groups, including a lengthy meeting with the Minister for agriculture and I had with both the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and Farm Contractors Ireland, and the significant engagement the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney and others had with the haulage sector. Sunday's announcement builds on the March measures to provide a comprehensive and far reaching package of support. It is objectively a comprehensive and significant package of support well in excess of what many other European countries have done per head of population. In March, as colleagues know, we legislated for excise rate reductions of 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel, and 3 cent per litre for MGO. In addition, the NORA levy was reduced by 2 cent per litre for liquid fuels such as auto diesel, petrol, MGO and kerosene. Further to this diesel rebate scheme, the maximum repayment for road haulage and bus passenger operators was also increased to a maximum of 12 cent per litre. Today's financial resolutions provide for a second layer of intervention that I will now outline. We will reduce excise on auto diesel by a further 10 cent, VAT inclusive. Taking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account, this brings the total reduction on diesel to 32 cent per litre, VAT inclusive. We are also reducing the excise on petrol by a further 10 cent. Inclusive of the 2 cent NORA levy reduction, this brings the total reduction on petrol to 27 cent per litre, VAT inclusive. We will also reduce the excise on MGO, or green diesel, by a further 2.4 cent, VAT inclusive. Talking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account this brings the total reduction on MGO, or green diesel, to 7.4 cent per litre. As I said, this needs to be read alongside the specific sectoral package of supports brought in for those who use and are dependent on green diesel. All of these reductions will run until 31 July. The estimated cost of these further excise reductions and the extension of the initial reductions until 31 July 2026 is of the order of €260 million. In addition, the Government has decided to defer the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until 14 October. This will provide further support to consumers of green diesel, kerosene, natural gas, solid fuels and other relevant non-propellant fuels. It has always been our policy to delay carbon tax increases on home heating fuels until 1 May each year. This allows for the passage of the winter heating season with the vast majority of fuel purchased between October and April, but in light of the extraordinary energy situation we feel it is now prudent to defer that planned May increase until later in the year. The estimated cost of this deferral is in the region of €22 million. In terms of the overall carbon tax revenue allocated for expenditure in budget 2026, which was over €1.1 billion, this represents approximately 2% of the allocation. Because I genuinely believe in the carbon tax and the benefits it provides in terms of retrofitting and the move away from fossil fuels, and I note support from genuinely significant numbers of Members of the Opposition for the benefit of that as a policy, we intend the spend the same amount this year on these measures as was profiled and we will do that by running a smaller surplus. This is the first time the Government has postponed any carbon tax increase since the introduction of the carbon tax trajectory in 2020. It is genuinely not something we do lightly. As we have consistently stated, the carbon tax is an important part of our county's climate action strategy. The decision on this temporary postponement is not taken lightly, and the carbon tax trajectory does provide incentives to industry to decarbonise. It also assists in addressing energy poverty. It supports our farmers. That is a point which is often lost in the debate. A significant amount of carbon tax goes into supporting our farmers, as the Minister, Deputy Heydon, knows, and also helps with retrofitting our homes. Deferring the increase on a temporary basis does recognise a significant turbulence we see in energy markets which has led to extreme price increases in fuels, such as kerosene and MGO, and therefore it seems to be a prudent thing to do. It is not possible to offset all of the recent increases, which are driven by market factors, using the tax system, and we have got to be honest about that as well. That is why we also have to look at what supports we can provide outside of the taxation system. It is why we took the decision, for example, to expand the fuel allowance scheme, which provides assistance to not far off 500,000 households, in recognition that not everything can be done through taxation. If you believe in the importance of funding the retrofitting, farming and fuel poverty schemes, you will see that carbon tax does play an important role and that, therefore, we have looked at other ways of supporting people with home heating costs by means, for example, of the extension of the fuel allowance. In addition to the tax measures being discussed, the Government has also announced a comprehensive €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. Farmers and agricultural contractors will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre on MGO use on the basis of verified fuel consumption in 2025. This is in addition to the excise changes I have already announced. The funding will be distributed proportionately, a point that was strongly emphasised in our ongoing engagement with the representative groups of farmers and farm contractors. This targeted and practical support package does ensure those most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of the year. I appreciate the welcome that the IFA, the Irish national representative organisation for farmers, has given to this package. I thank it and the many other farming organisations for engaging over many hours at the weekend and prior to that and for their work. To support the haulage and coach sectors, the Government will be establishing a new road transporters support scheme, RTSS. This will be modelled on the licensed haulage support schemes of 2022 and 2023. Similar to the schemes that were deployed following Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, it will be deployed to assist the sectors with the higher fuel prices. The RTSS will provide direct payments to the haulage and coach operators. Payments will be graduated with smaller businesses receiving a proportionately greater level of support. That is important. For coach operators that provide Local Link and school transport services, a separate support measure relating to the contractual arrangements of those operators will be introduced. I know there has been significant concern around the issue of school transport services. The combined cost per month of these supports to the transport sector is estimated at €40 million. I also want to thank the representatives bodies from that sector and the likes of the Irish Road Haulage Association and many others which extensively engaged over the weekend, and well in advance of the weekend too, for their constructive engagement. These further measures will also be in place for a defined period of time. As was the case in March, the Government reserves the option to adjust our approach as the circumstances globally evolve and as needs require. These supports are timely and necessary. In responding to the shock, objectively, the Irish Government has done more than most governments but this has only been possible because of the strength of public finances. That fiscal resilience has not happened by accident. It reflects decisions taken by this Government to rebuild fiscal buffers, focuses on strengthening the foundations of the economy and represents the really hard work and resilience of the Irish people and businesses the length and breadth of this country which we acknowledge today as well. The package announced on Sunday is a further significant response to the real pressures being felt across the country. It will directly help people impacted by the unprecedented global crisis in energy supply. We have always indicated we will keep the situation under review and act again if necessary. That remains the position of the Government but this is a significant response to real pressures being felt by Irish households and businesses. It is one of the most comprehensive support packages in the EU. I support the three resolutions.

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I did.

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I represent farmers.

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You are wrong.

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That is not fair.

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