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week and long before Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal war on Iran, which is just the latest thing to give rise to a fuel shock and price shock. This is an issue that has been brewing for years. These protests last week became something far bigger than just … made to reduce the cost of fuel for hauliers, farmers and everyone else. It is deeply disappointing and depressing that it is this climate-positive measure the Government has chosen to jettison over any other option to alleviate the energy price crisis we are facing. The Government could

energy crisis is a climate crisis, but it is also a social justice crisis. The reason we are here and the reason so many people are at the mercy of global and international fossil fuel shocks is that this Government and the previous Government … benefits. I refer not just to those who are financially secure but also to those who rely on supports, including disability supports and fuel allowance, and those families who are working but who find it difficult to invest in future-proofing their homes because they are worried about

Independent Ireland always welcomed any fuel cuts that were made but, in fairness, they never went to the core of the problem. I know, following the protest, the Government was kicking and screaming against giving anything to the people. The people almost had a revolution in the country … cost of butter and other foods are extraordinary and people are finding it very hard at this present time. In a crisis, Government is meant to be there to stand with the people. It failed to do that. Independent Ireland did and we got a lot of criticism

idea to solve the problem. It is even more investment in fossil fuel and imported gas, and all to placate Trump. It is glaringly obvious to most people that the simple solution to our energy crisis issues is to invest in indigenous sources of energy, such as wind … solar, something that could have been ramped up immediately following the energy crisis in 2022. The Government failed to act then and this is the solution it has arrived at now. The lack of intervention and meaningful attempts to try to get a handle on household bills means

social welfare payments, €8 or €16 for child payments and €5 in the fuel allowance. There was no meaningful cost-of-living package and no changes to personal income taxes. Meanwhile, housing remains in crisis despite €5 billion in capital commitments. The minimum wage increase to €14.15 barely … commercial entities; they are pillars of their communities that support local events, charities and even political activities. Such hidden changes erode trust and fuel frustration among the electorate. At a time when transparency and fairness should be paramount, these stealth increases will leave a bitter taste among rural

result, many of these homes are locked into that fuel source. What did the Government do for these families? It took 2 cent off a litre of home heating oil. In the jaws of an energy crisis when home heating oil has increased to record levels, the Government … month will be to marginally increase the tax on home heating oil in this country. Families are crushed by this energy crisis. Small businesses are going to the wall. Carers cannot afford to drive to mind the people they care for. Workers cannot fill their tanks

every day. The issue relating to the cost of electricity and the energy crisis in Ireland is a serious one. That is why this Government, through the Minister, Deputy Calleary, is expanding the fuel allowance. We extended the allowance for a further month in order to help people

projects, investment in cycling is not a frivolous extravagance. In a climate crisis, we need to support people to make the transition to cycling in order to help reduce emissions from fossil fuels and reduce dependence on private cars. I ask the Taoiseach and those on all sides

people of Ireland can be supported with regard to the energy crisis we are in. We need a timely conversation about the fact that we really need to move from fossil fuels to renewables. People cannot afford to do so, so we need to do what

luck on this EU Presidency. That is the biggest issue here. The frustrations people have about the level of tax on fuel at the moment is because the tax they are paying is ending up in waste. That is a major issue. Most people do not mind paying … then in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis jack up the cost of electricity? The fact the Government is allowing that to happen is a major problem. Last year there was €4.3 billion in fuel taxes and €1.2 billion in carbon tax, a tax that hardly

healthcare practitioners - nurses and midwives - who simply could not get to their patients when using their own cars because of the cost of fuel. That is why we made that proposal and it is lamentable in the extreme that the Government has simply averted its gaze from … ourselves from fossil fuel dependency. That starts by recognising we can intervene here and we have a role to play. During the oil shock of the 1970s Denmark invested in renewables and it has inoculated its citizens from the worst effects of this particular crisis. I am sick

with the cost of fuel and energy through the introduction of an additional package of measures. These measures come on foot of Ministers holding a series of constructive meetings with representative groups, culminating in this further significant support package to address the ongoing crisis. As somebody … currently applied to gas and electricity, saving households up to €100 million per year; enhanced social protection measures, including an increase in the fuel allowance rate of €38 per week with an expansion in the eligibility rules, which I know from experience in my constituency office brought

lever to reduce energy costs. Following recent international instability and the impact on fuel markets, I called on the Government to implement mineral oil tax reductions similar to those introduced during the 2022 energy crisis. There exists a precedent here. I recently remarked that if Ministers were

does the Taoiseach think the increases of just a few weeks to the fuel allowance is sufficient? It does not make a dent. A huge number of them were already in arrears before this crisis began. A total of 320,000 households were in arrears

during the last Government, I dread to think what kind of housing crisis we will have. It continues to escalate. In my view, if the Government keeps on taking the same policies, adding fuel to the fire with house prices and throwing renters into the fire, the situation

having serious conversations about costs is that ordinary people had to take to the streets to be heard. The recent fuel protests did not happen by accident. They happened because people felt ignored and because workers, families, farmers, fishermen and small business owners simply could not take … Government finally to recognise how severe the situation had become. That is the hard truth. When we talk about the cost-of-living crisis, let us talk about the real numbers people are dealing with every single day. Food is one of the basics. A sliced

with their parents, the parents are not allowed to apply for the fuel allowance. I have raised how this scenario of working adults living at home is happening more often because of the housing crisis and I would like the Minister to look at it. I wish

what is an energy crisis for the world and an energy affordability crisis for many people. We have taken a number of measures in the here and now to try to assist people with fuel prices. The Minister, Deputy Heydon’s fuel support scheme for farmers

middle-income families who are been crucified. They do not get the fuel allowance. They are not entitled to it. They are left out. This is on top of a cost-of-living crisis. There are 320,000 households that are in arrears with their electricity bills

Each crisis - Brexit, Covid-19, Ukraine, Gaza, US trade tariffs and the military action by Israel and the United States against Iran - has had a damaging impact on the price of everyday items, ranging from the weekly shop to clothing prices to topping up at the fuel pump

Covid. That has escalated and it is now at crisis point. It is a serious situation and Government needs to understand that. Middle- and low-income households were never under so much pressure. Fuel, petrol, diesel, solid fuel, gas and costs are high and, as we learned today … bands. PAYE workers and self-employed are now paying much more tax. The number of people in arrears on electricity has reached crisis point. People in rented accommodation are really struggling because rents are out of control. We know why that is. That must be addressed

which, at its heart, is a cost-of-energy crisis. At a time of energy insecurity, climate instability and rising household costs, every major budget decision should be taken to help people reduce their dependence on expensive fossil fuels. The response of the Government should have been … been announced this afternoon points towards a Government that does not see and does not understand the impact the cost-of-energy crisis has on large parts of our society. First, there is the Government's failure to make provision for targeted energy credits, the most effective

problem is that an announcement was made in the budget of €20 million. When we consider the scale of the crisis in our fishing community, that would not even scratch the surface. The problem is also that the inshore fishermen and the islands fishermen do not have … Adjustment Reserve Fund. They did not get any fuel subsidy or tie-up scheme. They got nothing because they were not affected in the way the offshore sector was, but they were affected by prices going up and the crisis. I am genuinely appealing to the Minister that

should be targeted income measures. That is why we extended the fuel allowance. I welcome that the Commission said measures should be temporary because I think we have to stay agile and flexible during this crisis. It is hard to predict where the global economy will

just regurgitates every time there is an event or a crisis in the world. We do not take Sinn Féin's approach. Exactly what we are doing here is targeting our measures on the fuel allowance, which would help poorer families and low-income working families withstand