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helped to some degree, but they are temporary, limited in scope and often underutilised. For example, only 45% of eligible operators claimed the diesel rebate last year. We have to ask why. It is because this process is complex and small operators simply do not have the administrative … SMEs and haulage, not just during crises but as part of an ongoing policy. These businesses need predictability, not uncertainty. Investment in green and fuel-efficient technologies can reduce costs and help us meet our climate targets. Let us make sustainability a cost-saving measure, not a burden

only way to get to work - is pushing him into debt. Our apprentices earn around €300 per week. Between insurance, the cost of diesel and petrol and now these planned toll hikes, it is suffocating. It is death by 1,000 cuts. This week, I heard … with measly crumbs. As always, it is one story for Dublin with another story for rural Ireland. Every year, this Government gives a green light to suck every last cent from those just trying to work and live in rural Ireland. It is just not good enough. They

last two weeks. That will cripple many haulage companies and motorists. I propose that the Government look at putting a cap on diesel prices for the transport sector, which is a crucial cog in the wheel of our economy. We must support and protect jobs. As I said … targeted supports or relief measures to help operators transition to more sustainable fleets without financial penalty. Thank God the fairy tale party, the Green Party, is no longer here because what it was doing to the sector was outrageous. If it wants it to become greener, then

across the constituencies, particularly rural ones, regularly talking about the unfairness of carbon tax and the lunacy of increasing the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil at a time when people are at the pin of their collar. My fundamental difficulty with carbon tax is that … last election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives in my county and right across the place were saying it was those dastardly Greens who were forcing them to do it. They said they were in government with them and that they were insisting on carbon tax increases every

that time. The carbon tax was brought in to deter people from driving and to use other methods of transport. The remaining Green Party TD had the gall to start talking about the cost of motoring and insurance this evening. He forgot to tell anyone that … have no problem in the world in saying that. Is there any way that the carbon tax could be looked at because diesel, petrol and oil are dear enough without driving the cost up further with the carbon tax? We are told that the money is being