Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed that the Government is putting the finishing touches on an “appropriate intervention” aimed at tackling increasing fuel costs, reports RTE.
He said the measures will target areas experiencing the “most acute pressure”, reports RTE.
Mr Harris said the Government’s plan will be finalised at the next Cabinet meeting, scheduled for Tuesday.
“This Government will act at this moment of great uncertainty,” he said, reports RTE.
“While de-escalation is a priority for Ireland, and all EU member states, the Irish Government is actively preparing for a variety of economic scenarios,” he said.
Mr Harris said that “fairness” must be at the centre of the response, reports RTE.
Earlier, Sinn Féin introduced emergency legislation in the Dáil aimed at reducing the cost of petrol, diesel, and home heating oil. The Tánaiste said Government decisions would be made before the bill is put to a vote.
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty had brought forward the Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026 this afternoon, reports RTE.
The proposed legislation would bring in temporary cuts to fuel taxes over a six-month emergency period.
Under the bill, excise duty on home heating oil would be eliminated completely, while petrol and diesel duties would be reduced by 20 cent per litre, and excise on green diesel for farmers would also be lowered, reports RTE.
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Mr Doherty described the legislation as a “demand for emergency action” from the Government, calling for reductions in taxes on diesel, petrol, and home heating oil.
He said the emergency legislation “can be passed today if the Government was willing”, reports RTE.
He said people across the country are clearly saying they “can’t afford to refill their heating oil”.
The cost of home heating oil has “doubled” and people “are really, really afraid”, said Mr Doherty, reports RTE.
“Older people are telling me that they are sitting in cold homes, afraid to turn on the heating,” he added.
He accused the Government of delaying and failing to act. “Decision time is now and there’s no more hiding place for the Government,” he said, reports RTE.
He said workers and families are already being “hammered” by the cost-of-living crisis.
Mr Doherty said it was “no wonder” that 320,000 people cannot pay their energy bills, reports RTE.
“People were already at breaking point,” he said, adding that “now those same people are seeing energy prices skyrocket, all over again”.
He said people are “demanding leadership” and “looking for a sign that the Government gets where they are at and what they are going through”, reports RTE.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said households in Ireland are being severely impacted by surging fuel prices and claimed Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are failing to respond.
She told the Dáil that people are under massive pressure, reports RTE.
She said: “How bad do things have to get before your Government helps? How high do fuel prices have to go for you to act?”
She said people cannot wait as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael “twiddle their thumbs” and said taxes must be cut on fuel and home heating oil and it can be done today, reports RTE.
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