Johnny Guirke: People Need a Break - Calls for Emergency Budget
Johnny Guirke addresses the Dáil to urge an extension of temporary reductions in excise duty on petrol and diesel until Budget Day and to press for an emergency budget to ease the cost-of-living crisis. He highlights the pressure on families in his county of Mead, rising arrears on electricity, and the findings of a Barnardos report that many parents fear they lack money to put fuel in the car.
Immediate appeal for relief
Johnny Guirke told the Minister that extending the excise duty reductions is welcome but must be continued until Budget Day and then reviewed. He argued that, where public transport is limited, cars are a necessity and fuel is an unavoidable cost for families who are already stretched by mortgages and insurance.
Household pressures and social impact
Guirke outlined the scale of hardship: one in four households unable to pay gas bills, 380,000 people in electricity arrears, grocery prices at record highs, and parents worried about affording fuel. He emphasised particular vulnerability among people with disabilities who face choices between heating or eating and the impact of high rents.
Policy demand and political context
Sinn Féin's call for an emergency budget is highlighted: measures proposed include €500 back in workers' pockets, electricity credits worth €400 and payments for people with disabilities. Guirke criticised recent Dáil votes by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and some independents as inadequate and noted that public protests forced the government to deliver limited fuel relief.
Consequences and closing plea
Guirke concluded by stressing that ordinary people have fought hard for small gains and that workers need immediate relief. He urged the Minister to act now, arguing that those struggling cannot wait until later interventions.
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Thanks, Comhairle. Minister, extending the temporary reductions in excise duty on petrol and diesel is welcome, but needs to be extended until Budget Day and then reviewed. In my own county of Mead, where public transport options are limited and cars are a necessity, for families fuel is an unavoidable expense, whether to fuel the car or heat the home. Ordinary families are stretched to the limit, with high mortgages, high insurance, one in four households can't pay gas bills, 380,000 people in electricity arrears. Grocery prices are at an all-time high. A Barnardo's report last week, where more than half of parents are worried they don't have enough money to put fuel in the car. Real people, real families under real pressure. People with disabilities choosing between heating or eating, rents at an all-time high. These people are struggling right now and can't wait any longer. That is why Sinn Fein has called for an emergency budget to put €500 back in workers' pockets. Electricity credits worth €400, €500 payment for people with disabilities and other measures. Going back to the Dáil record, back in March, Padraig, yourself, AN2 and the independence group did not cover yourselves in glory when voting with the government in their shamefully inadequate measures that triggered the fuel protests. Sinn Fein stood almost alone, only one left independent, Charles Ward, stood with us in opposing those shamefully weak measures that led directly to fuel protests. In April, after weeks of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael refusing to listen, ordinary people rose up in protest and took to the streets. They forced this government to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel, they had to fight hard for the little relief they got. Workers have never worked so hard, but have so little. People need a break, Minister, and they need it right now.
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