Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the clock struck midnight this Government increased the cost of fuel once again. This Government has been responsible for an increase of €12 on a tank of fuel since it took office. Ireland is now the most expensive place in the EU to buy diesel and one of the most expensive to buy petrol. Does the Minister recognise fuel hikes penalise workers and families, especially in constituencies like the one she and I share where people have no choice but to use their cars? Does she accept fuel hikes are putting enormous pressure on fuel businesses, especially in the Border region, and indeed could force some of them to close? If the Minister accepts those things, will she do what Sinn Féin have been calling on the Government to do and reverse the additional fuel charges introduced last night and in August?

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