Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

At the beginning of this month, with workers and families in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, the Government increased the price of petrol and diesel at the pumps. It plans to increase them again in August and again in October. The Tánaiste knows this will see Irish households facing among the highest petrol and diesel prices in Europe. I asked the Minister for Finance yesterday and he did not answer the question. Maybe the Tánaiste will make an attempt at it. There are 390 fuel stations along the Border counties and they tell me and the Government that their viability will be under serious threat if these price hikes go ahead. The price hikes, which the Government is adamant are going ahead, will leave the price of petrol over 20 cent cheaper in the North than the South. That is a serious differential. These businesses tell us they will not be able to compete. There are jobs and livelihoods at risk. Will the Government see sense, support households, help these businesses and not go ahead with these petrol and diesel price hikes that will push petrol and diesel prices to these levels?

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