Motor fuel hikes are being kept “under review”, the Taoiseach has said.
Simon Harris has refused to say whether a rise in the price of petrol and diesel in August will go ahead, as he hinted the current reduced rates of excise duty could be “rolled over”.
A reversal of a reduced rate of excise duty on petrol and diesel is planned for August, while a carbon tax increase has been proposed for October.
Mr Harris said: “We want motorists to know that, as a Government, we keep this under review and have great form in this regard.
“Reversals on reductions that were due to come into place as far back as August 2022 have been rolled over.”
Mr Harris was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald who urged the Government not to proceed with the measures which would raise the price of fuel.
Ms McDonald accused the Taoiseach of “talking a big game” nine days out from local and European elections, noting that the measures would come into effect after polling day.
Ms McDonald said: “If the Taoiseach is genuinely concerned about struggling families, why would he make them struggle more?
“He must know that raising the cost of petrol and diesel again and again will hurt these families, so he should not do it.
“If he is serious about tackling the cost of living, he should start by scrapping plans to hike the price of petrol and diesel in August and October.”
Mr Harris said there were “inconsistencies” in Ms McDonald’s approach.
“First, she travels the globe, most recently to Massachusetts, talking to the next generation about the importance of climate change,” he said.
“Yet, she comes in here and – I think many of the opposition would agree with me on this – refuses to take every single opportunity she has to show leadership on climate.
“She opposes every single measure put forward while telling young people across the globe that she wants to address the climate emergency.
“Perhaps more hypocritical is her position on petrol and diesel – she is misleading people again.
“To the men and women at home, driving to and from work, collecting children from school later today, I say that while the Government keeps future rises under review, including the August one, the Sinn Féin alternative budget proposed restoring all of the carbon tax by April.
“Stop trying to cod people. The people are not thick.
“They can see through this single gear Sinn Féin has, which is to sow outrage, shout and roar, go rah rah rah and stick a video up on Twitter. ”
Ms McDonald said Mr Harris “insulting” her did not take away from the reality of cost-of-living pressures experienced by the public.
However, the Taoiseach replied: “The deputy must not be a sensitive soul.
“When I talk about holding her to account for what she said, it is not insulting.
“I would never insult her. I have great respect for her as a person.”
Ms McDonald raised the fuel hikes during Leaders’ Questions in the context of a report by children’s charity Barnardos.
She said nearly half of parents who responded to the Barnardos report say their children have gone without food or that they have had to cut back on basics over the past six months, including clothes, medicine, electricity and heat.
“Some 47 per cent of parents say they are forced to cut back on social activities for their kids,” she said.
“The vast majority of those surveyed say they worry about not being able to provide the daily essentials for their children.”
Mr Harris said he was very grateful for the Barnardos report but added: “Objectively, Ireland is making progress when it comes to child poverty.
“The consistent poverty rate for children is now lower than it has been at any other time since measurements began in 2004.
“Similarly, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for children is now lower than at any other time since we started measuring it in 2004.”
