2026-03-18

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide emergency powers for the temporary reduction of mineral oil tax on certain fuels including home heating oil (kerosene used other than as a propellent), petrol and auto-diesel (heavy oil used as a propellent) and green diesel (marked gas oil) for the purpose of alleviating cost of living pressures; to provide for the extension of such reductions by order of the Minister for Finance; and to provide for related matters. Cuirim an Bille um Cháin Ola Mianra (Laghdú Éigeandála ar an gCostas Maireachtála), 2026 chun tosaigh inniu sa Dáil. Reachtaíocht éigeandála atá sa Bhille seo chun costas díosail, peitril agus ola theasa tí a laghdú anois díreach agus chun a chinntiú nach gcuirfear plean an Rialtais i bhfeidhm chun an cháin ar ola theasa tí a ardú taobh istigh de chúpla seachtain, mar atá beartaithe aige. Bhí oibrithe agus teaghlaigh buailte cheana féin ag an ghéarchéim costais maireachtála. I ndiaidh don Rialtas rud ar bith a dhéanamh chun deireadh a chur leis seo agus praghsanna a chur faoi smacht, scrios sé na tacaíochtaí costais maireachtála a bhí ann cheana féin agus d’aontaigh sé cáinaisnéis a rinne rudaí níos measa d’oibrithe. In áit chuidithe, rinne sé dochar. Tá níos mó teaghlach ná riamh nach bhfuil ábalta a gcuid billí fuinnimh a íoc tar éis an creidmheas fuinnimh a tharraingt uathu. Trí ghlacadh leis an reachtaíocht seo, is féidir leis an Rialtas phraghsanna díosail, peitril agus ola theasa tí a laghdú. Is féidir leis é sin a dhéanamh anocht trí ghlacadh leis an reachtaíocht seo. Tá an plean anseo. Tá an reachtaíocht foilsithe againn. Is é an rogha atá os comhair achan Teachta Dála, agus os comhair an Rialtais trí chéile, ná seasamh suas do thoghthóirí agus ghnáthdhaoine na tíre seo nó droim láimhe a thabhairt daoibh arís, mar atá déanta ag an Rialtas le coicís anuas. I am introducing the Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026. This legislation is a demand for emergency action and for the Government to stop dithering and delaying, and to cut the taxes on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. Has the Government not seen the fact we are now being charged more than €2 per litre for diesel at many stations? Has it not heard the people who are telling it very clearly that they cannot afford to refill their heating oil? People tell us they have to go into one room because it is too costly to heat the whole house. Elderly people tell us they are afraid to turn on the heat because the tank is running dry and the cost of refilling is simply an arm and leg. All the time, the Government delays and dithers. Is the Government deaf to the people pleading for it to help? The decision time is now and there are no more hiding places for the Government. This emergency legislation would immediately reduce the cost of diesel, petrol and home heating oil. It would make sure the Government's plan to increase the cost of home heating oil by placing more taxes on it, as it plans to do in the next number of weeks, would not go ahead. Workers and families are already being hammered by a cost-of living crisis. The price of groceries are up, rents are up, bills are up, insurance is up, college fees are up and childcare is up. This is the reality that so many people face day in, day out throughout the State. After doing nothing to end this rip-off and get prices under control, the Government took away the cost-of-living support that so many people were depending on. It brought forward a budget that left workers worse off. It is no wonder we have a situation now whereby 320,000 people cannot pay their energy bills. People were already at breaking point. They were already working every hour God gave them just to get by. Now, these same people see energy prices skyrocket all over again. Diesel is way up at more than €2 a litre. Home heating oil is almost double the price it was just two weeks ago. People are really afraid. Older people tell me they are sitting in cold homes afraid to turn on the heating. This is the reality of the situation, whether the Government likes it or not. It talks about waiting, reviewing things and monitoring and that maybe by the end of the month it might do something. People are demanding action right here and right now. They are demanding leadership. They are looking for solutions. They are looking for a sign that the Government gets where they are at and what they are going through. This is what Sinn Féin is providing, leadership and action, in this emergency legislation. This legislation can be passed today if the Government were willing. It would reduce the cost of diesel and petrol and slash the cost of home heating oil. This is the choice that every TD will have today. They will have a question they will have to answer to themselves on whether they will stand up for their constituents and the ordinary people of Ireland who are hard pressed because of these fuel costs, or will they continue to turn their backs on them as the Government has done over the past number of weeks. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cannot continue to sit on their hands. We call on them to implement this legislation and take action. It is not lost on people that up to 65% of the cost of filling the tank with petrol or diesel goes into the pocket of the Government. The Government has taken in far more tax in recent weeks because of these sky-high fuel costs. Now is decision time. Now is the time for action and the time to implement this emergency legislation and give some relief to hard-pressed people who are absolutely burdened by a cost-of-living crisis and are suffering under immense pressure because of fuel prices that are out of control.

Is the Bill opposed?

No.

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."