Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following issue of national importance, namely, the need for the Government, specifically the Minister for Finance, Deputy McCreevy, to address the serious effect of the high cost of fuel on hauliers nationally; its effect on competitiveness; the fear that the increase in prices will drive heretofore legitimate users of road diesel to the black economy; the plans the Government is pursuing with its EU partners to find alternative sources of fuel; the Government's plans, while holding the EU Presidency, to introduce proposals to bring more certainty to fuel prices and regulate oil companies; in the interests of transparency, the need to have oil prices quoted in euro as well as dollars; and, as an emergency measure, the need for the Government to reduce excise duty on fuel, reversing the 5 cent increase imposed in the last budget.

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