Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This morning, Social Justice Ireland pointed out that the Minister's budget would widen the gap between the rich and the poor. If he has not noticed, low and middle-income families the length and breadth of this State are still struggling with high costs. Yet, what the Minister has planned are more price hikes for them. The Minister increased the price of petrol and diesel last month and he plans to do more in 70 days, and more again two months later. Who is affected mostly? All of the research shows that those in rural areas, those who are socially deprived and those who have the greatest dependence on car ownership will carry the burden of the Minister's continuous tax increases on petrol and diesel.

We can all admit that fuel prices have increased significantly since the start of the year and the Minister's Government is planning to heap more pressure on top of that. We have said very clearly right throughout this year that fuel prices have to be kept under review. It is clear that the trend is going in the wrong direction and it is likely that if the Government continues to increase the price of petrol and diesel, we will be charged €2 per litre at the forecourt within a very short period of time. Now is the time, I say to the Minister, to show flexibility. These taxes are not required at this point in time to buffer the coffers of the State. We have the resources available. At a time when families are really struggling with the cost of living, which is at crisis level for many of them, the Minister is planning to put more pressure on them by putting another 6 cent on petrol and another 4 cent on diesel, and it is absolutely the wrong thing to do at this time.

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