Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their comments. Deputy Nash can certainly use the language he has used about it being a Government-imposed planned increase. He should also acknowledge that a Government cut the excise, and what is at play on 1 April and 1 August is a restoration of that reduction.

However, I have acknowledged that the situation is volatile. Deputy Doherty raised the case earlier of the garage owners around the Border area. It is a valid point. It is one I am conscious of. It is one that I will take into consideration later in the year when we are making further decisions and we are reviewing this in the lead-up to 1 August. There are different factors that impact on what the price will be and there are also different factors that determine where people will do their shopping, including where they will purchase their fuel. Of course price is one of those factors and there is a price difference currently, in particular in respect of petrol. I acknowledge that. I am aware of that. I have asked my Department to monitor that. I acknowledge the substantive point. It is not one that I am blind to. That is why I have given a commitment to keep this under review and to have a look at it again as we approach that final restoration.

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