Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The question we are all asking tonight is whether the Government is doing enough. I have read the Minister of State's speech. He says he is aware of the challenges facing families and he has outlined some of the measures the Government is talking about introducing. The Government is contending that it has done enough. On this side of the House, what we are picking up from people, families and individuals is that it is not doing enough and that they are suffering. What we wanted to hear tonight is not what the Government cannot do, and the Minister of State has outlined clearly that it cannot do a lot of things because its hands are tied, but what it can do. I did not hear anything tonight to indicate that it is going to do anything different. That is the nub of the matter. The Government is not doing enough and clearly it is not going to do any more. If it is, the Minister of State did not outline it in his speech. He knows oil prices are rising. Even during last week's drop, they were still higher than at any point in the last eight years. He should take that on board when making his decisions.

There are almost weekly announcements from different providers of price increases for consumers. People have nowhere to turn. There are currently no supports for the vast majority of workers and families to assist with the rise in heating costs. That is the view of most of the people I have talked to. Home heating oil has increased in price by over €1,000 for 1,000 l in one year. How are people supposed to keep up with that? People have talked about the carbon tax. Where is the just transition? Implementing a carbon tax in the current circumstances is simply kicking people when they are down on the ground. It will only add to the crippling energy prices and put further pressure on families. The Government needs to reduce excise duty on petrol and diesel and secure an agreement in Europe in order that it can reduce VAT on bills. Workers and families need help now, not down the road. They cannot afford to wait for grandiose plans and lofty notions to come to fruition. The question is whether the Government is doing enough. I would argue that it is not.

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