Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the past three weeks alone, we have had one significant increase in petrol and diesel prices and are now looking down the double barrels of not one but two more increases in a few short weeks. That may fly in some parts of the country but I find it hard to believe voters in the Minister's constituency would be happy about it. I assure him the owners of the 36,000 cars and 4,300 vans travelling to work and school every day in my constituency of Clare are appalled at this measure, which I can only describe as out of touch, and at the anti-rural decision-making of a Government that seems to be punching down.

As the Minister knows, the CSO reported last year that the rate of consistent poverty in the country was in or around 13.1% of the population. In Clare, that is approximately 17,000 of my constituents. Hard-working rural people are absolutely fed up trying to put food on their tables and clothes on their backs while keeping a roof over their children's heads. They feel they are being repeatedly punched down by this city slicker Government. People are at breaking point. We know these increases will undoubtedly cause an increase in applications for the additional needs payments, which will then cause a broken record in respect of those who were rejected and those who are on waiting lists. I implore the Minister on behalf of the people of Clare to withdraw the Government's grandstanding amendment and support this motion. This is about more than playing politics and the stakes are now far too high.

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