Cathy Bennett: I Voted No Confidence - Government Failed on Fuel
Cathy Bennett confronted the Minister after voting no confidence in the government over rising fuel and energy costs, arguing the government's measures are inadequate. She accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of offering half-measures while people struggle to heat their homes and run businesses.
Key accusations and parliamentary challenge. Cathy Bennett lists specific failures: the government did not cut diesel by the maximum possible amount, did not remove excise or carbon tax on home heating oil, and resisted measures until pressured into the chamber. She highlights energy credits pulled for households and people with disabilities facing loss of support.
Impact on households and businesses. Bennett emphasises how farmers, hauliers, coach operators and ordinary households are squeezed by record petrol and diesel prices and rising home heating costs. She points to arrears on electric bills and the knock-on effects on food supply and rural communities.
Political context and Sinn Féin’s stance. Bennett notes that Sinn Féin have set out how larger cuts to fuel prices could be achieved and directly challenges Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs to explain why they refuse to act. The speech frames the debate as a contrast between the government's limited response and the party's proposed alternatives.
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Minister, I stood with the people yesterday and I voted no confidence in your government. People protested over fuel prices, appreciate that the Irish government are not responsible for the international crisis. People protesting because, when crises occur, they expect their government to have their backs. And twice now, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, alongside the so-called independents, have made an absolute hames of it. And the country is so disappointed in you. You could have cut diesel by the maximum amount possible, but you haven't. You could have removed excise, including carbon tax, on home-eaten oil, but you didn't. And that's where the frustration is coming from, Minister. People are struggling to heat their homes. Farmers, hauliers and coach operators simply cannot afford to absorb the shock within already very, very slim margins. And where the frustration has already been fostered by government is that in even the paltry measures you have taken, you have been brought kicking and screaming into this chamber. Petrol and diesel set to hit record prices, home heating already there, energy credits pulled for over 300,000 households already in arrears on electric bills, 1,400 people with disabilities not getting their energy credits. And despite your miserable measures, do you think the people have it easy, Minister? The time for half-measures has long passed, Minister. If you want farmers to be able to produce food, hauliers to be able to bring it to our food and villages, and bus operators to bring it to our shops, then we need our government to stand up and stand with the people. Sinn Féin have outlined how we could achieve the cuts to fuel prices that we have advocated for. The question is now, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs is why not?
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