Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. The enormous increase in the cost of fuel in recent years has put considerable pressure on businesses, households and older people. Under the last Government excise duty, carbon tax and VAT increases amounted to 16 cent per litre of petrol and almost 12 cent per litre of diesel. This Government has raised the price of petrol and diesel by approximately 1.5 cent per litre.

The notion that our policies are to blame for the rising cost of fuel is not founded in reality. The €5 per tonne increase in the carbon tax announced in the last budget was the result of a previous agreement with the troika which was required because of the reckless behaviour of Fianna Fáil in government. It is difficult to describe the cheek of that party in introducing this Bill after what it has done to the country. If there was a Nobel prize for brass necks, Deputy Dooley would win it. I have no doubt John Drennan will have no difficulty in finding the biggest brass neck in this House. That is the reality. On the 2% increase in VAT-----

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