The escalating conflict in the Middle East is causing profound distress and uncertainty. Middle East strikes are continuing on the sixth day of war. I begin by expressing my deep sympathy for all innocent victims of these attacks. The images and reports emerging from the region are heartbreaking. Civilians are bearing the brunt of violence they did not choose and cannot control. Their suffering must remain at forefront of our thoughts and actions. Ireland has long had connections with the Middle East. Many countries in the gulf are home to large Irish communities. The crisis is being felt directly by our citizens. We have Irish people living and working across the region and many of them now face heightened risk and disruption. We have Irish holidaymakers who travelled in good faith and suddenly found themselves caught in a rapidly deteriorating situation. There are Irish citizens transiting through the Middle East from third countries for work, education or family reasons. They are now dealing with cancelled flights, border restrictions and uncertainty about how to get home safely. I acknowledge the tireless work of the Department of foreign affairs and our consular teams who are providing essential support to our citizens. Their efforts are ensuring Irish people, wherever they are, are not left without guidance and assistance. I stand firmly behind the work they are doing. The consequences of this conflict are not confined to this region. Global instability has already begun to impact international oil markets and we are seeing immediate and sharp increases in oil and fuel prices here. Households and businesses are feeling this pressure. International events can influence global markets but consumers in Ireland are entitled to fairness and transparency. Consumers deserve clear explanations when fuel prices, in particular, rise overnight. We all know that much of the fuel being sold today was purchased weeks ago at lower prices. I am told by the retailers, who I know well, that when they get their deliveries every day from the ports, the oil comes out at the market price of the oil they have to replace on that day. The Minister, when he has his meeting tomorrow, will be able to explain to us public representatives, and indeed to everybody in the country, the true facts behind all that, which a lot of people do not know. If stocks were bought at a lower price, consumers should not be paying wartime rates. We have seen overnight increases on garage forecourts. Consumers have seen prices rise to €1.80 per litre for unleaded petrol and diesel at some forecourts. A price of €846 is now being quoted for 500 litres of home heating oil. The same volume was approximately €494 this time last week. I was contacted by a haulier whose fuel card provider – you would know all about this, a Cheann Comhairle - imposed a 12.5% price increase from midnight on Tuesday and that is before VAT. All oil includes five taxes and these equate to 60% of the cost. From a litre of diesel at €1.72, the Government gets €1.03. In a war situation we as a Government will have to consider temporarily cutting excise duties for fuel to lower the cost to the consumer. This is why we have to have strong regulatory oversight. We must ensure our consumer protection framework is robust and responsive. It must be capable of acting quickly when markets shift in ways that raise legitimate questions. Irish families must not be left exposed to unjustified price hikes at a time when global uncertainty is already causing anxiety. As a country with a long-standing commitment to peace, diplomacy and humanitarian principles, Ireland will continue to advocate for de-escalation, protection of civilians and full respect for international law. We will work with our Europeans and the wider international community to support efforts that prioritise human life and create space for dialogue. Above all, we stand with the innocent victims, those grieving loved ones, those displaced from their homes and those living in fear. We stand with Irish citizens seeking safety and clarity and we stand for fairness, transparency and stability at home as we navigate the economic impacts of this crisis. I would like to say, a Cheann Comhairle, that I have finished a couple of seconds before my time.

Sentiment score: -0.02