Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called on Government TDs to support Sinn Féin’s emergency legislation to act decisively by removing carbon tax from home heating oil for as long as prices remain high, saying that it was unacceptable that, deep into an ongoing energy price crisis, the Government has failed to remove a single cent of carbon tax from home heating oil despite sharp increases in costs for ordinary people.

Teachta Crowe made their comments ahead of a Dáil debate on the legislation this evening. The bill would remove carbon tax from home heating oil to reduce costs for households struggling with soaring energy bills.

Teachta Crowe said:

“For months, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Independents have stood by while workers, families, and pensioners have borne the full force of rising energy costs.

“Home heating oil has been one of the fuels hardest hit by soaring prices, yet the Government has stubbornly refused to remove a single cent of carbon tax from its price.

“The Government needs to wake up to the reality facing households and start putting workers and families first.

“It will not be lost on the public that the higher the price they pay for home heating oil, the more money the state takes in from hard-working people through taxes like VAT.

“The result of that is some households now can’t even afford a refill, so it is far too late for half measures or tinkering around the edges. We need to see the carbon tax completely removed on home heating oil while prices remain high and people start looking towards the winter.

“The Government must support Pearse Doherty’s legislation to act decisively by removing carbon tax from home heating oil for as long as prices remain so appallingly high.”