Energy cost intervention to be finalised on Tuesday, Harris says

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

The Government will finalise “an appropriate intervention” to rising fuel and energy prices next week, the Tánaiste has said.

Simon Harris said measures would be signed off at the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Dail, Harris said: “This Government understands the pressures families and businesses are under.

“They are feeling it at the pumps – where the cost of filling a car has risen considerably in the space of just over a fortnight – and they are seeing it in the cost of a fill of oil.”

The Minister for Finance said he had spoken to his officials, the Taoiseach and relevant ministers, and added: “This evening, I want to confirm to this House that we are now finalising what we believe to be an appropriate intervention for the areas in which there is most acute pressure and challenge.

“The Government’s response will be agreed at the next Cabinet meeting.”

Mr Harris said he strongly believed any intervention should, in the first instance, be “for a short period of time”.

He was speaking during two hours of Dail time dedicated to a Sinn Féin motion on energy and fuel costs.

The party called on the Government to scrap plans to increase carbon tax on home heating oil on May 1, and to reduce the cost of fuels through emergency legislation on mineral oil taxes.