‘It's not a luxury’: Leitrim TD calls on Government to intervene on ‘through the roof’ fuel prices

Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny has called on the government to intervene to help with the skyrocketing prices of fuel.

“It's not a luxury, people need fuel to go to work, to go to schools, to go to wherever they go about their business, and we have to get some support in place for people,” the Sligo-Leitrim TD told Ocean FM on Tuesday.

“It's a past-time government acted on, I think they did it for too long, it's time to come out with a package which will assist people.

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Since the US and Israeli war on Iran last week, fuel prices have risen drastically to over €2.00 a litre, while home heating oil has doubled in some areas of the country.

Iran has pledged to sink ships using the Strait of Hormuz, a thin gap of water separating the UAE and Iran, through which a quarter of the world's oil trade flows.

“This new crisis, which in fairness has been created by you know the US and Israel, and the attack on Iran, and all of that which happened very, very far away, but the consequences are felt here,” Said Deputy Martin.

The government is yet to outline any measures to ease the burden the inflationary prices are causing to consumers, but has said it is keeping its options open.

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“Government have a responsibility to do something to try and alleviate the huge pressures on so many people out there.”

He suggests addressing the high prices by cutting taxes on fuels, VAT, and Carbon Tax, suggestions that have been echoed by members of various industries in the last week.

“I've had a lot of concern, certainly from hauliers, from constituents, from people,” said Frank Feighan, Sligo-Leitrim TD and minister for procurement, who welcomed the expansion of the fuel allowance payments earlier this month.

However, he did not call for action from the government but said that they would monitor the situation. “It's an evolving situation, and I would hope that the government will act accordingly.”

“I'm just following what's happening on the media, and I would hope that we're a managed situation. As I said, we hope that we will act accordingly to minimise the impact.”