Search the record

price of which has gone up 70% in the space of a month. I asked about disabled people who are out protesting because they simply could not afford to live before any of this happened. I asked about single parents and ordinary families who are so hard-pressed … focusing on investment in solar. Never before has it been so exposed how vulnerable we are because we are so reliant on fossil fuels. The Government's investment in solar predominantly benefits data centres as opposed to ordinary people. There are 1 million homes eligible for solar. Only

transport operators, until the middle of this year. It also implements cuts to mineral oil tax rates on petrol, auto diesel and other fuels until July, while postponing further carbon component increases until October but these steps are not enough and they offer modest short-term respite … deep and sustained crisis. I stood with agri-contractors, hauliers, and construction workers on the lines in my constituency during the protests. I found it remarkable that there is a lack of acknowledgement of the struggles that businesses face in this country. What is very concerning

working now in this country. That gap continues to widen. It is little wonder we are having strikes and protests. I will support the workers in their claim. Any percentage increase needs to be highest for those on middle and low incomes in the public sector … energy, while we have to transition and there are SEAI grants available, if you are on the lowest income and on the fuel allowance, it is free but there is a two-year waiting list for that. For the grant assistance for other upgrades, people need to have

they are going to be €12 worse off. Now, that is some brass neck from the Government on this. It has shortened the fuel allowance season by four weeks and then pretended it is actually bailing out people by increasing the amount by €5. They are worse … that this has been a burning issue for people, forcing the Government into action only when people had to rise up and protest because the Government refused to understand and refused to listen to the pressure ordinary people were under. Many forecourts are now charging

going out of business. I know the Minister of State will say to me that the Government cannot control the price of fuel. Brent oil was $126 a barrel last night, which is an astonishing price. It is down to $114 a barrel now as I speak … saying it to the Tánaiste earlier. Irish people and businesses are on their knees. That is what led to the protests. I know it. I was at the protests from the moment they started. I even intervened at a protest. I noticed there on a podcast

problem for the route was the cost of putting the vehicle on the road, the cost of energy and the cost of fuel. It will now be introduced for Carlow to Waterford in terms of a public service obligation but what concerns local communities affected along the route … costs affecting that route in terms of Expressway's provision are addressed. The public discontent about how people were treated during the recent protests cannot be ignored by this House. There was too much inconsiderate language used to described those who were on the protest. The people

also outside Leinster House today. Someone from my community, Sarah Attridge, travelled nearly five hours to get to the gates here today, protesting that budget 2026 has left disabled people up to €1,400 worse off. This is not just a number but a heating versus eating crisis … coalition says, disability poverty does not happen by accident. It is the result of policy decisions. The coalition is calling for emergency winter fuel funding. The Minister of State cannot stand idly by and not accept that that is a crisis. We need urgent action including

moving safely and affordably across the country. When haulage costs rise, we all pay the price. Hauliers face extreme cost pressures with volatile fuel costs and rising insurance premiums. They are also struggling with the increasing general cost of living alongside the rest of the country. The Government … strengthening of the dialogue pathways for people. This sector had to bring the country to a standstill to have its concerns taken seriously. Protest is a powerful tool and an important part of any democracy, but it should not have taken this level of disruption for the Government

kicked away this time, the farmers are going to get an awful kick back on this and are furious. They are talking about protesting. I am trying to keep the peace like we tried to before. The Government has forgotten the people out there - the farmers … December? What about the hundreds of thousands who cannot pay their electricity bills? They have no certainty. Putting up the price of fuel again in the coming months will be a further hit. The Tánaiste also talked about electric vehicles and solar panels. People want to change

kerosene was at 95 cent, one would think that the need for carbon tax was then gone to discourage people from using fuels such as green diesel, white diesel and kerosene. The Government is persisting with it notwithstanding the way it has increased. Let us consider white diesel … ensure that something is done for these people. Mention was made of the age profile of people who were in the protest. I can visualise yet the 86-year-old woman in Killarney, on the bypass, who was out with her flag protesting at what was happening

sense they are being looked after in all of this. The one thing I found when talking to people out on the protest was that the change they wanted to see was the price coming down at the pump for everybody, not just for the sectors. They thought … welcome that there is a change in that. However, again, it is not this year; it is going back looking at what fuel they used last year and taking five months off that. A whole complicated process has been put in place, which is regrettable

Government's handling of the fuel price issue has been appalling. It refused to listen to the Opposition. Week after week we told it what was happening. It refused to listen to the representatives of the various sectors and various bodies. I wrote to the Tánaiste in March … ordinary, hard-working people who work 60 or 70 hours per week. The Government only moved to put supports in place when the protests escalated. Then it was threatened that the army would be brought in. For what? For one Army truck to move pallets that could have

ongoing war in Iran is having real and serious consequences for households and businesses across the country and the pressures of energy costs, fuel costs and supply chains are being felt everywhere. It would be wrong to pretend otherwise. I welcome the Government's €750 million support package … crisis of this scale, and people deserve straight talk rather than false reassurance. I also want to say something about the protests we have seen. The right to protest is fundamental, and I respect it absolutely. I thank the gardaí who had to operate in challenging environments trying

stand by my remarks. Actions speak louder than words. For all the Taoiseach's protestations, we are not seeing actions from this Government that indicate a seriousness about tackling climate change. This is not just a matter of presentation. The Taoiseach said it is irresponsible to oppose … meeting future demand, even in the event of extreme supply disruption. Why do we need this commercial facility? Locking us into new fossil fuel infrastructure when our emissions are still so high will have a further effect. It will see Ireland further overshoot its climate targets so that

others in congratulating Senan Molony on his retirement. This is a Government permanently stuck in reaction mode. A crisis happens, pressure builds, people protest and, eventually, the Government scrambles to put together an emergency response. This is not a cost-of-living strategy; it is a desperate approach … fees and so-called voluntary contributions. That is on top of already extortionate rents, mortgages, childcare, groceries and energy bills. Yes, extending the fuel supports will help but it will not help enough. The most frustrating thing is that this Government is in a position

good thing. While I support these measures, the challenge has been that many of those who are out on the protest - and I know a lot of them - are hard-working and decent people and this was seen in many ways as being the last straw. I genuinely … every day. Not alone did they not see sufficient benefits - there were some in the budget, but they were not sufficient - but once fuel prices increased, it became a significant problem for them. What we have to do in the context of the coming budget, and in prioritising

half measures on fuel costs and a small cut in excise duty that will not make a dent in making fuel affordable for Kildare commuters who are already paying more than €100 per week for petrol. It has done nothing on home heating oil, leaving carers, elderly people … touch but they regard ordinary people with arrogance and disdain, as we saw on full display when the Taoiseach refused to meet with protesters to hear their concerns. Tá athrú de dhíth. This Government was only saved today because of a bunch of self-serving, spineless Independents

warnings from us on the Opposition benches were ignored. In the context of the protests in Laois that I attended, there were decent hard-working people who work 60 or 70 hours a week present. Truckers told me that they are losing €6,000 per month. They … heating oil; the majority outside of Portlaoise. These are low- and 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

fuel allowance. I welcome the extension into May of the fuel allowance, which means an extra €152. For some people, that fuel allowance is not enough, so we have helped them with the additional needs payment or the supplementary welfare allowance. We have also had many people … fear. I also welcome the many people who took to the streets legitimately. For many, it was the first time that they ever protested because they felt that their voices were not being heard. We hear them loud and clear. We have to ensure that at the next

issues with housing, childcare and all the other cost-of-living issues that unfortunately existed here long before the present cost-of-fuel crisis. Deputy Crowe stated it quite clearly: we have all seen in news reports and elsewhere people queuing up outside embassies to vote … Chamber. The fact is that demographics are changing. There is a conversation happening across Ireland and there are significant sections, even within the Protestant unionist community, who now see Irish unity as a sensible option, including for reasons such as being part of the EU. Many were

range of temporary relief measures that may be introduced when such trigger points are reached, including: — temporary reductions in excise duties on fuels; — temporary reductions in Value Added Tax rates; — targeted reliefs for the transport, farming, fisheries and small business sectors; — temporary reductions or waivers in commercial rates … getting more frequent and this Government has learned nothing from this. It comes in with packages after people have had to protest because they are in desperate situations. Small businesses are closing their doors. The minimum wage is going up but the person on the minimum wage gets

even introduce a €500 electricity energy credit and certainly refused to introduce any measures to get us away from reliance on fossil fuels. People will be worse off next year as a result of this budget because, as has been outlined, even in the best-case scenario workers … those measures the Government cut was something called the disability support grant, which was €400. It told us last year, when we were protesting as part of the Affordable Ireland campaign led by disabled people, not to worry because it was going to do all this work over

none, because these are the guys Independent Ireland Deputies want to cosy up to. Where have they been while we have been protesting against the hikes in public transport fares that are facing commuters, students, people with disabilities and people who cannot afford cars? They say they … them. An equally important point needs to be made: those pressures are being exacerbated and prolonged by Ireland’s continued dependence on fossil fuels, which the Deputies are seeking to subsidise indefinitely in this motion. The existence of a cost-of-living crisis does not remove the need

right. There were, unfortunately, a lot of self-appointed leaders involved in protests. However, there were very decent people involved in the protests I attended. They tried their best to weed out those, I call them thugs, who try to get involved. They get involved in everything that … respects. A discussion took place on C103FM yesterday morning in relation to the success of the cancer clinic in west Cork, but the fuel crisis is hitting it hard. This is a voluntary service that takes cancer patients to and from parts of west Cork and other areas

stood there and negotiated with them to make sure nobody was affected. The waterways were not affected. The farmers were not affected. The fuel was not affected because we went down and met them to hear their concerns and we actually worked with them. I have … after. They said to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that the pen was mightier than the sword. Timmy Dolittle was mentioned at the protest. He will be gone the next time and he will never again return