Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The point is that more expenditure will be required. We are only in March and we have already allocated an extra €800 million in about five weeks because of the international crisis and the war. That is the reality. No government wants to preside over escalating energy and fuel prices. We want to cushion the blow for people, both for households, for whom we would do more if we could, and in respect of the price at the pump. However, this is an internationally traded commodity. That is a fact and we have to deal with that reality. I think the measures today will help people in bringing prices down somewhat.

As to what will happen over the coming weeks, the most important thing we can do as a country is to keep advocating a peaceful resolution and to get a cessation to hostilities and to the appalling humanitarian crisis, to which we have to respond and for which we need to allow expenditure.

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