Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. The Government is simply going to stand idly by and let many businesses go to the wall over the next few months. I hope that during the summer recess the Tánaiste will speak to the owners of those businesses, as I have done in places such as Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Bandon and even at the Dunmanway Agricultural Show last weekend. The public are rightly furious and angered by the Government's inaction, hiding behind Putin's war and hiding behind taking urgent measures to reduce VAT on fuel because of Europe. The price of a litre of diesel in Malta this weekend was €1.21. Malta is in Europe. The price of a litre of diesel in Ireland, also in Europe, is heading to €2.30, with the Government taking almost 50% in tax. It is the Government's green buddies who have destroyed this country, aided and abetted by dreaming Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Deputies. Will the Tánaiste commit to eliminating the excise duty, carbon tax and VAT on both fuels, including agricultural diesel, from now until at least 31 December? Waiting for September or October and then for 1 January 2023 is not a sustainable position to cling to. The Government must give people a break, let them see their families, let them drive to work and let them live affordably. At this stage it is the very least the Government can do for the Irish people.

See this speech in context