Danny Healy-Rae demands 30c cut to fuel prices now
Danny Healy-Rae pressed the Minister in the Dáil over soaring diesel, petrol and heating oil costs and asked for a 30 cent per litre reduction, noting a price gap with Northern Ireland. He highlighted nearly €40 million a week in extra taxes and warned of severe hardship for drivers, farmers and hauliers if action is not taken.
Summary of the exchange
Danny Healy-Rae addressed the Minister directly, saying people in Kerry and across the country are suffering from the rise in fuel costs. He asked for the pump price to be reduced by about 30 cents per litre, pointing out that fuel in Northern Ireland is reportedly cheaper by that amount.
Key evidence and numbers
Healy-Rae referenced the scale of the burden: almost 40 million euros a week being taken in extra taxes and the large capacity of commercial vehicles, noting a truck can take around 1,400 litres. He argued that the increase affects everyone who relies on engines and wheels, from families to farmers and hauliers.
Calls for immediate action and consequences
The Deputy urged a prompt response from Government, warning the situation is "very, very serious" and that delay would make relief too late. The Minister responded that Government needs a measured response and will consider the appropriate actions, including excise duty and possible targeting of measures.
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Thank you very much, Comhairle. Like all the rest of the country, Minister, the people in Kerry are suffering as well with the extra cost of the exorbitant cost of diesel and petrol and heating oil. Minister, it has come to my attention that in Northern Ireland it's 30 cents less per litre. I'm asking, as you're taking almost 40 million a week extra in taxes to reduce the price of the pump by that amount for the people that are using it, I can't understand when you say targeting certain people. Every man and woman with a wheel and an engine is affected by the extra cost now. And even a truck, I'm told, takes 1,400 litres to fill it. Can you imagine, Minister, the amount of hardship? And if you don't do it soon, it will be too late. You must do something to rectify the situation, which is very, very serious. Thanks very much, Deputy Healy-Rae. It's the same issue throughout the country. People are extremely concerned about the rising cost of diesel and petrol. Government is well aware of that. We need a measured, well-thought-out response. You say everyone is affected by it. That is the case, but I suppose not everyone is affected to the same extent by the increase in fuel costs. So government needs to have a look at this in terms of what's the appropriate response, whether it be excise duty or elsewhere, and also needs to give consideration to the targeting of measures or not.
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