The cut to excise duty on petrol and diesel has been “immediately eroded” with fuels costs higher on Thursday than earlier in the week, the Dáil has been told.
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty said that many filling stations are charging over €2 per litre and accused some fuel stations of “engaging in price gouging at a time of crisis”.
The Government introduced a cut of 20 cent per litre on petrol and 15 cent per litre of diesel, which took effect from midnight on Thursday.
The measure, introduced amid concerns about growing pressures on the cost of living, will last until August 31st.
The Government estimates that the measure will cost €320 million.
Despite the slash in excise duty, many drivers were seeing prices above €2 a litre.
“The price in most filling stations this morning is more than what they were on Tuesday morning,” Mr Doherty said in the Dáil.
“The reduction has been immediately eroded and that is the likely trajectory.
“Prices are going to continue to go up and up. It’s something that ordinary workers, ordinary families simply can’t afford because it comes on top of already skyrocketing cost of living.
“People are panicking out there. People are struggling.
“They’re struggling to make ends meet and the Government doesn’t seem to understand that, doesn’t seem to understand the pressures of workers and families are under, doesn’t seem to understand that businesses and farmers are now being pushed to the pin of their collar because half measures simply doesn’t cut it.
“You could have done more”.
People need support from government. They don't need to be told to 'slow down'.
They're telling you: Hurry up, get your act together and get these prices down further!
– @PearseDoherty #Fuel #Energy #CostOfLivingCrisis pic.twitter.com/x5IOgODUYe— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) March 10, 2022
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said that when the Government made the decision to cut excise duty, they knew it would “not cover the full cost”.
The Minister for Transport described the market as “incredibly volatile and beyond precedent”.
“On Tuesday, the wholesale market for diesel in Ireland went up 22 cent, yesterday it went down something similar,” Mr Ryan added.
“It’s yo-yoing, it’s dramatic. We can’t be exactly certain where it’s going to go or where this war will go. We will have to manage it. It will serve no one if we panic, we have to be methodical and keep responding the same way we did to Covid by being flexible and quick.”
Mr Doherty repeated his party’s calls for excise duty to be taken off home heating oil, and called for further cuts to excise on petrol and diesel.
He accused the Government of not bringing in any measures to reduce the cost of home heating oil, which he said has more than doubled since January.
However, Mr Ryan said that tax on home oil is largely carbon tax.
“The problem I have, as I said three weeks ago, that would in turn remove the money we use to give the 100 per cent grant to people’s homes to help them cut their bills,” he added.
“We have to look at other means and other measures, and we will, efficiency measures as well as price reductions.
“We have to ultimately, more than anything else, switch from foreign fuels to using our own.
“Switch the oil to wind and in that way provide security for our people and cut the bills.”
'Cartel behaviour'
Minister for Consumer Protection Robert Troy urged the public to notify the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) if they see any unfair pricing practices.
“Global events continue to have an increasing impact on everyday life, and the rising energy and fuel prices as a result of war are adding huge pressures on people in every part of the country,” he added.
“I have conferred with my officials who are working with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to ensure consumers are aware of their rights and businesses are aware of their obligations in this regard.
“If any consumer has evidence of cartel behaviour or abuse of dominance with regards to high fuel costs, they should contact the CCPC who can investigate.
“These are still early days, the full economic risks and challenges may not yet be fully realised.
“Government continues to work through the consequences of these events and what they will mean for Ireland, and offer support where it is possible.”
