Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government is already recognising the challenges many face with the cost of living. For example, in June, an additional €100 payment per child will be available through a bonus child benefit payment, we are making a further increase in the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance, the hot school meal is being extended, we have made efforts to reduce school transport costs and an additional payment has been made available through the working family payment. Those are all things we have done. The finance Bill to which the Deputy referred will lead to an increase in excise duty tonight. It is being done because those excise reductions were brought in in an environment in which the prices of petrol and diesel were above €2.20, heading towards €2.30 and €2.40. As we speak, it is significantly less than that. Sinn Féin did not vote against the finance Bill that contains those excise changes so I ask that they do not come into the House today and suddenly discover a newfound concern about them.

See this speech in context