Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In asking for this measure to be extended, the Deputy explicitly acknowledges that it is a measure that helps and, as he said, that measure will be in place up to 28 February next year. By continuing it from 1 November to 28 February, the measure is aimed to provide support at what we know is the coldest time of the year. I would make the case to the Deputy that the appropriate thing to do is to review where we stand at the end of February before deciding if the extension of a measure like this is merited. If the Government decides that we are going to extend the lower VAT rate for gas and electricity, the Deputy would understandably ask me why we do not extend all of the other measures we have in place, for example, with regard to excise on fuel, beyond their current end date at the end of February as well. I believe that what we should do is assess where we are with the price of fuel at that point and decide if an extension is merited. I hope it will not be and that we will see an improvement in the cost of living by then. In any event, I think the right time to answer that question is then, rather than now. While I can completely understand the logic behind the case the Deputy is making, and I can understand the assurance it would offer, given the scale of money that is involved in the extension, I believe the Government would be safer with the country's money by deciding this early next year.