Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion forward. Of course, my colleagues and I in the Rural Independent Group support it. Why would we not? We had the exact same motion before the House last February calling on the Minister to address the ever-increasing cost of living. That was back in February, a number of months ago, when fuel was not even at the awfully high price it is now, which is having the knock-on effect of raising the cost of everything.

With regard to the difference it will make to people who are struggling, the Minister keeps saying people will have to wait until October, but I appeal to the Minister in this regard because people really do not have the luxury of waiting until then. Farmers, fishermen, young couples and everybody else who is vulnerable are facing such a massive shock increase. It is all interconnected. People are complaining about ESB bills, that they are getting the shock of their lives when the bill comes into the house. The Minister comes along to say there will be €200 off the price of electricity. That €200 was like the money that was reduced on petrol and diesel. I will never forget - I think it was a Wednesday night - when the Minister reduced the price in the House, but he neglected to tell people that it went up by more on the Monday and Tuesday nights than he brought it down by on the Wednesday night. It was as though the Minister had spit in the ocean, to be blunt about it.

The tax take the Minister is getting out of petrol and diesel at present is frightening. The Government is gaining the most out of the increase because, every time the price goes up, it means the Government is getting a higher tax take out of that higher price. It is frightening. The Minister never had as much revenue coming in, and at the same time he was never doing as little for the people.

I plead with the Minister to take notice of this motion. I plead with everybody who has any intention of being involved in politics to forget about parties and to think about the people who sent them here. They are Teachtaí Dála - messengers of the people. I support this motion wholeheartedly.

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