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

This Government response is totally inadequate and insufficient. In the short time I have available to me, I want to make the case on behalf of the transport and logistics sector, the sector that keeps supply lines open and people and goods moving. It includes hauliers, private coach operators, school bus operators, coach tourism operators and taxi drivers. Businesses from the four corners of the State have been in contact with me in recent days crying out for support. A haulier in my county who has been drawing fresh food and vegetables for more than 25 years says he will finish up at the end of this week because fuel is beyond €1.70 per litre plus VAT, with promises of further increases. He uses 78,000 l per month but bases his prices on a cost of 95 cent per litre plus VAT. He cannot take it. He cannot pass the cost on to his customers and has no fuel surcharge. If more is not done on diesel prices, he will go to the wall. His business is family run and has 25 lorries and 40 employees.

Similarly, as of this week, a school bus operator in north Dublin is running at a loss. He signed a five-year contract with Bus Éireann in 2018 based on a cost of €1.37 per litre. Prices are now beyond €1.70 per litre plus VAT, with a 45 cent increase in one week alone. The operator says it is totally unsustainable and that the problem has come just when things were looking up after Covid.

In coach tourism, a contractor in Tipperary–Kilkenny signed contracts 18 to 24 months ago based on a rate of €1.29 per litre, allowing for an increase of 10 cent or 15 cent. Now, as we know, prices are in excess of €2 per litre, yet the Government is proposing to take just 15 cent off diesel. It went up 22 cent on the wholesale market yesterday. At best, the Government will bring diesel prices back to those of last Friday evening or Saturday morning. The businesses I have referred to are proud family businesses that provide employment in the four corners of Ireland. They are keeping Ireland moving but this is how they are treated. It is an absolute disgrace. To be clear about it, the Government is doing more on petrol than on diesel. The companies provide essential services. They run on diesel and do not have alternatives.

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