Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We had a good meeting with representatives of the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA. They have a good reputation in respect of how they represent their members and how they have worked with the Department over the years. Even recently, in the context of some of the Covid-19 measures, the members of the IRHA played a helpful role in the context of the flexibility we needed. The same applied with Brexit as well. This issue of high fuel prices is not an easy one to resolve, to be up front and honest about it. We have had extensive discussions with the Department of Finance and we are looking at a range of different options in this regard. I do not think the cost-of-living proposals to be announced tomorrow will be the time to deal with this aspect. What will be announced then will be a small number of more general measures for the wider population.

We have, however, committed to talking to the representatives of the road hauliers again to explore what we can do for the sector. Whatever it is we do, it must help in the decarbonisation of society. There is no point in us going down the wrong road and delaying this transition. I am keen to try to support the haulage industry in adapting and to help it thrive. It is typically often a low-margin industry, with many good small family businesses. The supports the Deputy referred to will not be contained in the measures to be announced tomorrow. As I said, we must go back to the hauliers to drill down further into how we can work together on this issue.