Taoiseach accuses Sinn Féin of trying to ‘engineer’ further fuel protests

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has accused Sinn Féin of trying to “engineer” further fuel protests.

Emergency reductions in fuel excise that were introduced in April by the government in response to widespread blockades are set to expire on 31 July.

One of the organisers of these fuel protests is trying to rally support for a similar blockade over a planned 32c increase to diesel and 27c increase to petrol in August.

Speaking in the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty remarked that “ordinary people rose up in protest” in April and that they were “forced to take action to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel”.

“Can you imagine their reaction last week when your government voted to pass the finance bill, a law that will see the cost of petrol and diesel increase from August,” said Doherty.

He said Martin voted against Sinn Féin amendments that would have stopped these increases and that there will be a return to “rip-off prices at the pumps if you don’t act now to stop it”.

“It’s clear that you haven’t learned anything from the fuel protests,” said Doherty.

“We proposed amendment after amendment to stop your fuel hikes, but you kept on going down the track that you’ve set, and you’re going to make things even harder for families.

“That’s what you voted for in the finance bill and unless you act now, ordinary people are going to pay the price, and we can’t have a repeat of what happened in April, that it was only after those who keep Ireland moving, having risen up in protest, that you were finally forced to act.”

In response, Martin said: “Clearly, you’re all about politics and not about policy, and you have played politics last week with this, and you’re playing politics this week with it.”

Martin added: “You kind of cleverly put in a few amendments last week, they get voted down, and then you turn it around and say the ‘the government are voting for increases’.

“It’s a game you’re at.”

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Martin then pointed to the war in Iran as the driving factor behind rising fuel costs but noted that there has been a “cessation of violence” and “a resolution which has given some respite”.

He said this has resulted in a reduction in oil prices and that there have been “steady declines” in fuel prices domestically in recent weeks.

“We’re closely monitoring the international domestic fuel prices, and this will inform our decision-making process,” said Martin.

The Taoiseach then added that “the end of July is more than a month away” and that the “government will keep this under review”.

Doherty however refuted that he is playing “games” and added: “This has nothing to do with games, how dare you?

“When people tell me they don’t have enough money in their pockets to pay for the bare necessities in this Ireland of 2026, that’s not a game for them.

“The finance bill has passed the Dáil and on the first of August these prices are to increase.

“You don’t need more reports, you don’t need reviews, you don’t need anything bar to get your head out in the sand and to recognise that putting up the price of diesel by 32 cents in the matter of a number of weeks is reckless.”

Martin then accused Doherty of “wanting to look after the oil companies, really, by just giving whatever, and you don’t want to even monitor what’s going to happen over the next number of weeks”.

The Taoiseach then said: “You put the amendments down last week, so you could then make the allegation that we are increasing prices, so you could try and engineer protests.

“That’s what’s going on, I’ve seen the Facebook page, I’ve seen it all.

“Government makes a decision, there’s going to be protests. That’s the game.

“You’re entitled to raise the issue, but that is the political agenda, that’s your political agenda.

“The government has not made a decision in respect of the end of July, and the government is going to keep it under review and act accordingly.”

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