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17 Mar 2026
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Mayo TD, Rose Conway-Walsh, has confirmed that Sinn Féin will bring a motion before the Dáil this week, demanding urgent action from the government to tackle soaring energy costs.
The motion will look to reduce petrol and diesel prices, and scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil.
Deputy Conway-Walsh said the debate will allow Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to finally act to protect workers and families facing severe financial pressure.
“Workers and families have been struggling through an unrelenting cost-of-living crisis, and the rapid rise in the cost of petrol, diesel, and home heating oil is making an already difficult situation far worse.
“Households in Mayo and across the state are under enormous pressure, and yet Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to sit on their hands while costs spiral,” she said.
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The Mayo TD said Ireland has been hit with the largest hike in the price of home heating oil in Europe at almost eight times the EU average.
“At the same time, the Irish government currently charges almost double the EU minimum fuel tax rates, meaning at the pumps, between 60 and 65 percent of the price you pay goes straight to the exchequer.
“Sinn Féin’s motion calls on the government to scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil, due to take effect on 1 May, and to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, and home heating oil temporarily by implementing Sinn Féin’s Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026,” she added.
Sinn Féin’s Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026 would see petrol and diesel prices cut by 20c, while excise duty on home heating oil would be removed, reducing a 1,000-litre refill by €183.
Conway-Walsh said record numbers of households are already struggling to pay their energy bills.
“The number of people at risk of poverty has also increased. In that context, the Government’s failure to act on soaring fuel costs is simply unacceptable.
“This motion gives the Government and every TD an opportunity to back immediate action to bring fuel prices down and provide real relief to households.”
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