John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I acknowledge that the topic we are speaking about is an issue which has been created for us due to the horrific events abroad in the context of Russia invading Ukraine. It comes on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, which added increased costs to and more issues for businesses throughout the country. This crisis comes at a bad time for those affected by the impacts of Covid-19. We are now entering into a time when it is not possible to predict the price of diesel and petrol. Farmers are in the same boat and cannot predict anything. Those who need to buy diesel cannot do so because they cannot get quotations. The Government's proposal is a step in the right direction but quite frankly, as most of the public would say, it is not enough. We must consider the impact of this measure, if it has one, on a rolling basis because petrol and diesel prices are going up all over the country even as we talk about this issue. A Europe-wide effort must be made to deal with the issues confronting our different sectors.

Turning to the haulage sector, which is my background, I have never had as many calls from hauliers from all over the country to tell me how bad it is in respect of the price of diesel, the ordering of diesel and the extra expense being put on them to such an extent that they cannot cope. It is likewise with the cost of petrol. People are telling me, and I can see this for myself, that going to work in rural Ireland is completely different because we do not have a public transport system. Those people are looking to the Government to take far greater action than what is being contained in this proposal.

I am also concerned about older people in society, those who are already pushed to the pins of the collars and unable to meet the extra costs of heating their homes. They must therefore make the choice between cutting down on what they eat or heating their homes. That is a fact. Like most people in this House, and I am sure it is the same for the Minister in his constituency office, I have never had as many phone calls from the public as I have had today.

They are expressing deep anger and frustration that there is not a plan beyond this to deal with the matters that have arisen and are likely to arise out of this war.

As we plan and make decisions here, we are not working in real time. Already the impact of these high costs have been carried by businesses and households, including people in fuel poverty. That has happened. They have paid a price up to now and they are looking to the Government for a real price reduction, whether it is in VAT or excise duty. It is in the hands of Europe to control the different rates. Europe should be coming to the table not tomorrow but today. We should be making the decision with our European partners to bring down the prices even further. We will not be thanked for not having a plan in the course of the next few weeks, and this measure will not be enough.

I have seen on forecourts domestic users of heating oil filling tiny tanks that they can carry back to their homes to heat them. How long more can that be sustained and how long will we stand back, to a degree, and not give the type of response that the public wants? Deputy Doherty mentioned backbenchers and what they can do. Within our own parliamentary parties the argument goes on about all of this. It is not just here in the Dáil Chamber. We hear about this from our constituents just as much as the Deputy does. I will go along with this decision this evening based on the fact it is a change in the right direction.

I have heard that a big firm in Carlow is threatening to put employees on notice because it cannot order oil or diesel. The firm contributes to the construction industry so if it is affected and goes on short notice, supply into the construction industry will also be affected. There would be a knock-on effect right across the economy that we cannot ignore. Neither can we ignore that businesses on high streets are also suffering; having suffered during Covid-19 they are suffering now as well.

Representatives of the Irish Road Haulage Association met the Minister and they will give the clear facts on the ground. Members here, meanwhile, will give clear facts on the ground regarding what households experience. Bearing in mind all of this, I want to see more done and Europe more involved with this. I want to see a more rounded response from the Government on this. There is no doubt this motion will be supported this evening but the Minister needs a plan for tomorrow and next week.

See this speech in context