Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)

Last night, the Government had a chance to vote for measures that would cut the cost of living. Instead, it stood firm and decided to continue the rip-off. The irony of the Government putting statements out the day after it rejected the very measures that would have brought down the cost of driving and haulage for SMEs should not be lost on anyone here. I cannot say that I am looking forward to the excuses. For the Government, today's debate is a box-ticking exercise that allows it to lip service to a problem it is unwilling to fix. Last night, it could have agreed to reverse the carbon tax increase to cut the cost of petrol and diesel, to end rip-off insurance premiums and hold insurance companies to account, to stop further toll hikes, to hold energy companies to account and to end financial penalties for those who have to pay their motor tax in instalments. These real and practical measures would have eased the pressure on workers, families and the struggling haulage SME sector. Instead, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the regional Independents and their supporters chose to pile on more costs, a move which has become the hallmark move of this Government. As a result, ordinary people and our SMEs are under unbearable pressure. According to them, jobs are at risk.

In Kerry, local businesses are telling me the same story. Rising fuel costs, insurance and toll hikes are all pushing them to the brink. According to Chartered Accountants Ireland, costs have increased for almost 80% of small businesses in the last year. Budget 2026 did nothing for them. Two thirds of the businesses in the country say that it offered no relief. What is the inevitable outcome? Consumer prices will rise and more businesses will close. The Irish Road Haulage Association has been sounding this alarm bell for many months, but its warnings have fallen on deaf ears. That is why the Government was in such shock lately when Fastway Couriers collapsed. A total of 300 jobs and 1,000 contractors are out of work. Franchise drivers have been left in total limbo. The fallout has been swift and severe. However bad the situation is for the full-time staff, the situation facing franchise drivers is even worse. Many of them are owed weeks of pay they will likely never be refunded. Franchise operators are out thousands upon thousands of euro. These are the SMEs in our community, the sole traders, the people working for themselves and the people who live down the street. There is real concern that this will be repeated across the industry unless something changes and something is done to address all of the rising costs, especially for motorists.

The IRHA has warned that the latest increase from TII and the Government will be the straw that breaks the camel's back, with widespread strike action on the cards. Who is this going to hurt the most at the end of the day? It will be the ordinary people and their expenses - the people who are struggling with the cost of living. It pushes up prices for basic necessities which are already sky high. Is the Government taking the cost-of-living crisis seriously at all? On top of this, we face a severe HGV driver shortage. A total of 4,000 drivers are needed over the next five years. It is almost ironic that the week after we deported a planeload of Georgians, the Government is rushing to do a deal to get more Georgian drivers back into the country. Waiting times of up to two years for a test and sky-high training costs are pushing people away from the profession. The Government must act now to fast-track recruitment and reduce costs. This Government has no plan, just statements and spin. Sinn Féin has a plan - we heard about it last night - to cut the tolls, reverse carbon tax hikes, end rip-off insurance and support SMEs. These steps would ease the pressure on hauliers, protect jobs and help families. It is time for action, not excuses.

See this speech in context