Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I absolutely oppose this proposition to increase excise duties on petrol, diesel and other fuels, which will have a serious impact. Once again, as with the previous proposition and indeed with the next, the target is almost the same. It will have a particularly negative impact on those involved in Border communities, including filling station owners and employees. We are creating a further imbalance in the cost of fuels north and south of the Border, thus kinking everything. The next proposition concerning VAT will further fuel - not wishing to pun - matters at this point in time. All the points I made about the last proposition apply once again to this one. It is a further tax on access to work and must be seen in the context of an ever-depreciating economic situation. People are currently finding it impossible to survive and the Government is making a bad situation even worse. We vehemently oppose this proposed increase.

See this speech in context