Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I think it does make sense for him to review the position and defer the Government-imposed planned increase set in train for 1 August. We have had a 4 cent increase per litre on petrol and 3 cent on diesel. The Minister has outlined that. He has said, quite correctly, that the Government is not responsible and cannot manage all price shocks. This is not a price shock based on the international market and international trading conditions. This is a Government-imposed increase on hard-pressed consumers. Consumers are still getting stiffed at the checkout. Consumers are, quite frankly, being ripped off by telecoms companies, and while the Minister will say inflation and the cost of living are coming down, the reality is the rate of increase is slowing and the cost of living is still extremely high, especially for those working people on small or fixed incomes. The Minister needs to reflect on this. He will be familiar with the issues that Border garage retailers are experiencing and the differential between North and South. That is putting real jobs at risk in Border counties like my own in County Louth.

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