Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased that the Minister and Deputy Doherty placed on the record the primary reason we are debating these important issues, that is, as a consequence of the illegal war and occupation of Ukraine. Our primary responsibility must be for the people of Ukraine. They are the victims of Putin's war. We need at all times to have their concerns at the top of our agenda. We in this House also have a responsibility to the people we represent for the management of economic affairs in this country. It is clear that, even before war broke out in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis was biting hard.

The Government's response to date has, frankly, been anaemic and meagre. This is biting. Additionally, we have the consequences of energy price increases and the inevitable food price increases that we will see arising as a result of the war in Ukraine. Any efforts to reduce the price of fuel at the pumps is to be commended. As the Minister made clear in his earlier contribution, the Exchequer raises approximately €2 billion each year, and has done so over the last year, from excise duty on fuel. It is a not insignificant proportion of the revenue required to run our public services. As I said, however, any effort to reduce the price of fuel at the pumps is welcome. It may be a cliche but these measures do not go far enough to address the genuine concerns of ordinary householders, working families and small businesses regarding the ever-escalating price of diesel and other fuels.

We have all seen images from across the country and from our constituencies, especially during the last 24 hours, showing large hikes in the prices of diesel and petrol, literally overnight, in anticipation of tonight's excise duty cuts. The polite word I would use to describe these practices is "cynical". In the Certa station in my area, the price went up 20 cent per litre overnight, as it did in several forecourts in the east Meath area as well. Those companies put the price up today and will pocket the profits from that increase. In the morning, they will try to tell us that fuel is cheaper because of the reduction in excise duty. This price increase has nothing to do with any movement in the wholesale price of fuel over the last 24 hours. This is profiteering at its worst. It is deeply cynical. There is a special place in hell for individuals and companies deliberately setting out to profit as a consequence of war and we must be mindful of that. In that final analysis, this is what I think is going on here in many, but not all, circumstances. These are mercenary practices and must be investigated. If any sense results from such an investigation that any form of collusive price-fixing is going on here regarding the cost of fuel and these kinds of peculiar rises that we have seen recently, then the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, must throw the proverbial book at the offending operations.

In his interview during the "Six One" news, I noted that the Minister said his intervention will mean that prices will rise less and that is a telling comment. I know the Minister cannot guarantee what the wholesale price of fuel will be on the markets at any time in the future. Things are so volatile now that I would not expect him to do so. We can all expect, however, given what is happening in Ukraine and the volatility internationally, to see significant price rises in the cost of diesel and other fuels in the weeks and months to come, notwithstanding the efforts being made by the Minister. I presume the Minister expects this as well.

Can the Minister therefore put on the record what other measures he feels he has in his toolbox that he will be able to deploy against these ever-rising and escalating price increases and the impact they will have on our everyday lives and on the cost of making ends meet for families across the country? To me, there is a short- and medium-term solution that the Minister could consider to control the price of fuel at the pumps. The Minister could deploy the provisions of section 61 of the Consumer Protection Act 2007 and introduce a maximum price order. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, seemed to suggest earlier today that it is not possible to undertake price controls and that the State does not have the capacity to introduce price controls. The 2007 Act, however, states it can be done. In my experience, section 61 of the 2007 Act has never been deployed, but these are extraordinary times and it is a matter of political will. For the benefit of colleagues across the House, the relevant provision of section 61(1), entitled "State of emergency affecting supply of the product", reads: “If the Government are of the opinion that abnormal circumstances prevail or are likely to prevail in relation to the supply of a product, the Government may by order (“emergency order”) declare that a state of emergency affecting the supply of that product exists”. That is something the Government should consider and something it ought to be considering. I wish to hear from the Minister why he is not considering this measure at this abnormal time of emergency.

Earlier as well, I heard the Minister say that one of the reasons he may not consider this possibility is because we are so dependent on external supply. If the Minister decided to introduce price caps, that could of course be kept under review. As I said, section 61 of the 2007 Act has never been deployed. These are abnormal circumstances, however, and the kind the legislation anticipated. They are the type of abnormal circumstances that the Act may refer to. The provisions of the 2007 Act should be used to stabilise petrol and diesel prices. The measures should be kept under review and the impact and effect of any price cap should be reviewed in the normal course of events.

Regarding bus companies engaged by the Department of Education to operate the school transport programme, this matter was mentioned to me earlier by my colleague, Deputy Sherlock. I am happy to raise it with the Minister now because it affects every constituency, and especially rural constituencies. These small bus firms are on fixed-price contracts. They may find some genuine difficulties in making ends meet if they must adhere to those particular terms and circumstances. Does the Government envisage any help being provided for those small firms? The Minister might elaborate on this point.

Turning to another issue, the ESB is making supernormal profits and recorded a similar level of profits last year. Will the Government be requesting additional dividends from the ESB this year? If so, will those dividends be ring-fenced and returned to the families across Ireland who need this support the most?

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