Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

White diesel in Spain costs €1.55 today. In Ireland, meanwhile, the price quoted for green diesel, which goes into a tractor, is €1.40, kerosene is €1.35, white diesel is between €1.85 and €2, in some places around Dublin, and petrol has gone up to €2.05. I understand that we have reserves in Cork. Are we going to do something about this situation? I got 11 calls from bus drivers yesterday who tendered with the Department of Education to bring children to school. They are throwing their contracts back because there is no surcharge on them. Lorry drivers are also parking lorries. An explosion is about to happen in the next week or two if something is not done by the Government. I am asking about what is going to be done about this situation, whether it is impacting farmers using green diesel or people who need home heating oil. I do not want to hear about fuel allowances and everything like that. I am talking about people who do not qualify for those schemes and who are working every day. It costs €40 an hour in diesel to run a lorry. We are talking about food prices and people in this context. I want to know what the Government is going to do about this in the next week, because ferocious frustration is being experienced by the public.

See this speech in context