We are now two weeks into a crisis in which Irish households are being hammered by skyrocketing fuel prices. The cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil has spun out of control, yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are absent. This is a do-nothing Government that is sitting on its hands and refusing to help while workers, families and motorists are fleeced. People are under massive pressure right here and right now, but the Taoiseach says it is too early to act. He says that the Government will keep the situation under review. My God, I have never heard anything quite so detached or disconnected. I will do the review right here and now. In many places, petrol is hitting €2 a litre, diesel is hitting €2.17 a litre and home heating oil is close to €900 for half a fill. These are unaffordable, crushing prices. How bad do things have to get before the Government helps? How high do fuel prices have to go before it acts? This is an immediate crisis for working households right across the land. While the Government dithers and delays, we are hearing from people who are in real trouble. These are people afraid to turn on the heat and who cannot afford to fill up their cars. I spoke to one woman who said that she spent an hour just staring at the quote for her home heating oil and trying to figure out how she could pay for it and still have money for the food shop. I also spoke to a father who commutes a long distance to work and who is already struggling to pay the rent. He is now worried how he will keep the car on the road in order that he can get to work. Households are struggling with an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis, and now this rapid increase in fuel prices only makes things far worse. What is the Government's response? It says that it is monitoring the situation. It seems things are not quite bad enough. The Government is waiting to see. How out of touch can you get? People cannot wait as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael twiddle their thumbs. People need them to act. Up to 65% of what people pay at the pumps goes to the Government in taxes. The Government hauled in an estimated additional €38 million in taxes and levies due to these price hikes in just one week. It is blindingly obvious what it needs to do, namely cut taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. This would immediately bring down prices. The Government could do this today. We will be moving the necessary legislation this afternoon; the Government just needs to implement it. No more excuses, no more beating around the bush and no more delay because it is unacceptable for the Government to let another week go by without intervening to cut fuel prices. Tá teaghlaigh buailte go dona ag arduithe ollmhóra ar phraghsanna an bhreosla. Tá Fianna Fáil agus Fine Gael as láthair, ag diúltú cabhrú leo. Caithfidh an Rialtas gníomhú anois chun praghsanna peitril, díosail agus ola teasa tí a laghdú. The choice is clear. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can continue to sit back and allow households to be hammered or they can act today to immediately cut soaring fuel prices. Sinn Féin has put the legislation on the table to make this happen and it is ready to go. All the Government has to do is pick it up and implement it. Do it today and ease some of the pressure that people are under.
Sentiment score: -0.09
The only actions that the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Government has set out so far are proposals to increase taxes. The Minister has reiterated that position again. I do not know whether there is anybody sitting here among us who cannot turn on their heating or cannot fill their car. I do not think that is an experience anybody here on the Government benches or anywhere else has but it is the reality for too many families and for too many working people. I am simply asking the Minister and we have given the Government the mechanism to do it. We have given it the answer and we have given it the solution. The legislation will be moved this afternoon by Deputy Doherty. The Government simply has to lift this and, as an emergency and necessary measure, cut the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. It is not a permanent measure but it is a very necessary emergency measure. This policy of mañana and wait and see is a luxury that people in this House might enjoy but it is not a luxury that working families have.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I appeal to the Minister today to stop the distraction, end the rhetoric and actually make the move that is necessary.
Sentiment score: -0.59
Will the Minister answer the question?
Sentiment score: 0.00
Are they?
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Are they?
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When?
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When?
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What the people want most today-----
Sentiment score: 0.08
You are a disgrace.
Sentiment score: -0.49