Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The increase to the price of petrol and diesel is penalising ordinary workers and families. The average working family continues to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, and while inflation has eased, the cost of basic necessities still remains sky-high. Fuel prices have risen by more than 30% in recent years and if all three of the Government's price hikes go ahead, the price of petrol will increase by 10 cent per litre and the price of diesel will go up by 8 cent. Recent research by academics in Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin also pointed to particular disadvantage in rural areas given the poor access to decent public transport. Working people are being hammered by the cost of living. Are they expected to just sit back and take it? The Government seems adamant about putting people in an impossible position and it is squeezing them for every red cent. The Minister is completely out of touch with the reality people are facing on the ground and the hardship his policies are causing households. His amendment outlined the measures the Government has taken. While these measures were welcome, the reality is that it was a drop in the ocean in the general scheme of things. The fact remains that people are still struggling with a cost-of-living crisis. The Minister should see sense and reverse the hike in the fuel prices that was implemented on 1 April. He must also scrap any future hikes. The Government needs to do the right thing and protect businesses and households from the increasing cost of living and not contribute more to it.

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