Call to scrap planned petrol price rises

Sinn Féin TD for Tipperary, Martin Browne has called on TDs to stand up for the people of Tipperary and support Sinn Féin’s call to scrap planned petrol and diesel price increases.

The Government will increase the price of petrol and diesel with a hike in the carbon tax on October 11 and a further excise duty increase on October 31.

Deputy Browne was speaking ahead of Sinn Féin’s motion on the issue, brought forward by the party's Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, which will be debated in the Dáil on Tuesday.

Teachta Browne said: “I am calling on all TDs to support the people of Tipperary and support Sinn Féin’s motion to scrap planned petrol and diesel price increases.

“Petrol and diesel prices have increased steadily since May and have shot up again in the past number of weeks.

“Despite these price rises, the government plans to increase the price of petrol and the price of diesel twice more throughout October. The timing of these increases is atrocious and needs to be stopped.

“By the end of October, they will have increased the price of petrol by 10 cents per litre and the price of diesel by more than 8 cents per litre, pushing both closer to €2 per litre.

“Ordinary workers and families simply cannot afford these hikes in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“Pearse Doherty warned the Government that pressing ahead with these tax hikes was the wrong decision when prices and the international oil market remained volatile.

“Once again, we see that the longer that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are in government the worse things keep getting for those struggling with the cost of living. It’s time for change.

“That is why Pearse Doherty is this week bringing forward a motion to the Dáil that calls on the government to reverse its plans to increase the price of petrol and diesel on October 11 and to reverse its plans to increase the price of petrol and diesel on October 31.”