Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Identifying that as the problem demystifies the mystery of why diesel is more expensive. The reason diesel has been more expensive in recent times is that the demand for diesel globally is ahead of supply. It is because of events in China and other countries where it is being used in diesel generators because they are short of electricity. In Europe, it is because we are switching towards diesel cars. That is the reason diesel prices in every country have gone up.

That is backed up by the fundamental problem that we are approaching a peak in global oil production. We are not unaware of and are committed to protecting our people from fuel poverty in those circumstances in whatever way we can. I increased the budget in the warmer homes scheme from €2.5 million to €4 million to provide people with what is the only proper solution. This is insulating and reducing their use of the material as the best way of cutting back in their long-term spending.

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