Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)

I thank Deputy Dooley for bringing forward this Bill, which is sensible and much needed. For the past 22 years I have run a small retail fuel business and I know the business inside out. Since the price of fuel has sky-rocketed, I have noticed that people are economising and using less. Sales have reduced, which means the Government take must have fallen. The cost of fuel is also stopping people travelling, which stops people spending.

With regard to the effect of price increases on contracting, today we met with a new organisation representing agricultural contractors. People in the haulage and machinery hire businesses find the cost of fuel crippling because their rates have reduced over the past couple of years because of competition. There is so much competition for work that rates continue to reduce. However, fuel costs continue to rise. It is now takes €1,4000 worth of diesel to fill an articulated lorry with fuel. This is a significant amount of money. If it was half that price, it would be too much. This Bill should be supported by everybody here. We are talking here about a forced introduction of price increases. If a litre of diesel cost 75 cent at the pumps tomorrow morning, that would be plenty to pay. The Minister may laugh at that, but it is the truth.

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