Waterford TDs speak on diesel price surge

Sinn Féin TDs for Waterford Conor D. McGuinness and David Cullinane have called on the government to take immediate action to protect households, farmers, and small businesses as diesel prices surge as a result of conflict in the Middle East.

The call follows the doubling of the cost of home heating oil in recent days.

Deputy McGuinness said, “Families are already stretched to the limit by soaring rents, sky-high grocery bills and rising energy costs. They cannot carry the burden of another fuel price shock.

“Once again the government’s response has been to sit on its hands. People cannot wait while ministers say they are ‘monitoring the situation’. This is happening right now in households across Waterford."

Meanwhile, Deputy Cullinane called on Ministers Mary Butler and John Cummins to take action.

“Waterford’s two government ministers, Mary Butler and John Cummins, should be using their positions to demand action from government. People here will rightly question why they have been so quiet while costs continue to rise.” Deputy Cullinane said.

Cullinane called on government to scrap the planned increase in carbon tax which is due to come into effect shortly. 

He also asked that government reduce the tax on petrol and diesel during this crisis, and bring forward targeted cost-of-living supports for households already under pressure. 

"Finally, there must be a serious crackdown on price gouging to ensure companies do not use this international crisis as an excuse to rip people off" Deputy Cullinane said.