Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The challenge here is clear. For hauliers, particularly small hauliers with several lorries on the road, the margins are squeezed unbelievably because of the increasing cost of fuel. What has the Government done in response? Based on the reply of the Minister of State, the answer is "Nothing". It has done nothing to respond to the runaway fuel prices. When I raised this with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, at the Oireachtas committee a couple of weeks ago in advance of the cost of living crisis, he said the Government is looking at this but it needs to be wrapped up in environmental measures. That is all we seem to hear from the Government. There is nothing more than that one line. There is no detail of what it means and certainly no response in terms of addressing the immediate crisis within the sector. Immediate action needs to be taken in respect of the rebate in the first instance. Is the Government going to do that?

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