Simon Harris
Wicklow · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are more than 10,000 routes and thousands of buses involved and the number of students using the services is not a million miles away from 200,000. The current terms of the scheme are going to continue to apply for the 2026-27 school year.”
“I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is genuinely an important issue. I do take the point that when we talk about this in the abstract or from a process point of view in here, that for people watching this is their real lived experience.”
“There number of children who have been supported by means of the school transport scheme, as Deputy Fitzmaurice knows and has alluded to, has grown significantly in recent years. Since 2018, the number increased from 120,000 in 2018 to more than 181,000 now. Included in that figure are 24,000 pupils with special educational needs.”
“I knew the Deputy would have to mention the GAA, especially with Galway and Limerick playing at the weekend. I wish everybody involved the best of luck. We are very committed to the school transport scheme. If the Deputy wants to see our commitment, he should look to our budget.”
“An ageing population, increasing healthcare needs, the transition to net zero and the need for continued investment in housing, energy and infrastructure will place a significant demand on public resources.”
“There is also a legitimacy to the point the Deputy made about how it is a legitimate form of transport for some people. We see this working in other European countries. We see it in our nearest neighbours. I do not want to get the regime wrong, but I think they have registration at the point of purchase that allows people to track this.”
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“On foot of the Deputy raising the matter, I will discuss it with the Minister for housing and ask him to come back and have further engagement with the Deputy on it.”
“I do not doubt the Deputy’s green credentials, in fairness. The Deputy makes a fair point. All of this is always a balance. We are in a housing emergency but the point is that we want people to move into those houses and for them to become homes. Practical requirements about where people park their cars are not issues that should be dismissed. The Deputy’s community is, perhaps, a good example or case study for Government to reflect on. In many parts of the country, we are not seeing enough homes being built. In other parts, including in the Deputy’s constituency, we are seeing a significant number being built. Maybe that needs to be reflected in terms of some of the specific challenges there might be in areas like Adamstown and Clonburris where particularly high densities of housing are going in.”
“I live in a constituency that is not vastly different from that of the Deputy, especially the northern half where there is a significant number of additional houses being built, which we are glad to see. The challenges around ratios, parking spaces and the need for people to have a car are real and present too. On foot of the Deputy raising this issue, I will talk with the Minister, Deputy Browne. Some of these are matters for the local authority. Others are matters that central government can work through. I am hearing about service charges a lot. This is a real issue for people. I need to check with the Minister for housing on this. We are committed to that transfer taking place and the completion of the Multi-Unit Developments Act. Let me try to get the Deputy an accurate timeline as to when that is likely to happen.”
“Quite frankly, that means all of our communities and constituencies taking more houses. I am encouraged to see the increase in this regard in Lucan, Clondalkin and more generally across the Deputy’s constituency of Dublin Mid-West. It is also true that those increases are putting real pressure on infrastructure. The Deputy highlighted the example of parking today, but there are a variety of issues in this regard, including public transport, schools and pitches. That is one of the reasons we set up the housing activation office because we need our local authorities to be able to work with central government. We need them to inform us about the key pieces of infrastructure they need or the things they need to be unblocked in order to deliver these homes, because we need to build communities as well as houses.”
“I thank Deputy Gogarty for raising this matter. I am grateful to have the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, beside my for some local knowledge on some of these issues. I was in Clonburris not that long ago. I will get to some of the infrastructural challenges but I must say, being honest, that I was pleased to see the number and quality of homes being built and the partnership model that seems to exist – certainly from my visit - between the Land Development Agency, developers and the local authority. That is an important template for others to learn from. We all know we are living through a housing emergency. We are all under pressure as the people’s representatives to see more homes built. We have set a very ambitious target of 300,000 homes by the end of 2030. We have to get there.”
“Price caps have significant budgetary implications in terms of the delivery of public services because they do not reduce the cost; they just transfer it from the forecourt to the taxpayer. It is not free money. It has a real impact, and it would cost many billions. There are challenges in this country, but figures from the CSO now show that the average weekly wage is over €1,000. We are creating 200 jobs every working day. We have an ability to make real progress on key issues and help people to work through the challenges they are facing.”
“The Deputy used the term “disruptive protest”. I will not speak for Deputy, but I will say that I do not support the blockade of critical infrastructure or the idea that someone can tell me whether I can move freely around this country. I do not support some of the comments online last night from the so-called self-appointed leaders that if anyone on these benches on this side of the Chamber attends an agricultural show, we will be dragged out of it. I do not think the Deputy supports that either. We should condemn that, because we are better than that. On price caps, the Deputy has a view. We have a different view. We do not believe they work. Liz Truss tried a version of this. We believe that price caps transfer the cost from the forecourt to the taxpayer. It does not disappear; it is just transferred.”
“Many people leading the protests oppose and abhor everything Deputy Murphy stands for, whether people think that is right or wrong. On the VAT cut in the hospitality sector, which is supported by some but not all of those in opposition, people can refer to beef barons and name large fast food change chains. The vast majority of people who benefit from the reduced rate of VAT on hospitality are small restaurants and cafés and rural pubs that serve meals in the middle of the day. They are the backbone of the domestic Irish economy. They employ a hell of a lot of people directly and provide benefits to more people indirectly. It is a measure that becomes more important than ever now in terms of supporting the domestic economy and reducing the cost for SMEs at this difficult time.”
“The Deputy's views on protest are well known. We can have a debate on his a loose enough definition of what constitutes a protest. He and I have different views as to where peaceful protest starts and ends. Lots of genuine, decent people protested this week. There were also people who crossed the line in terms of legality. I saw people saying pretty horrific things to Deputy Murphy about his support for LGBT people in this country. I agree with him on his support for those people, and we have common cause in that regard. It worries me slightly that he is willing to perhaps adopt common cause with people who abhor much of what he champions. He may agree or disagree with that. I am not saying this to be provocative or rude, but the Deputy sees the bigger prize as mass protest. That merits reflection.”
“There is nothing that triggers inflation more than commodity prices. If we cannot take measures to try to suppress energy prices, insofar as anyone can during a war and the knock-on impact on supply to which it gives rise, inflation will increase even further. That will have a detrimental effect on the people to which the Deputy referred. I accept his bona fides in highlighting their cases. The Deputy mentioned Google and others. That is fine; that is his politics. I must point out that €109.3 billion is expected in total tax revenue this year, about €34 billion of that, or 31.1%, is expected to come from the same corporate taxpayers the Deputy demonises. That is before we even get to the income tax benefit of the many thousands of people who work in those communities, some in Dublin and many outside it in terms of regional development.”
“We have to acknowledge that real wages in this country are rising. We also have to acknowledge that we made very significant increases, quite rightly, in the disability budget this year, albeit with a big focus on service provision. Those increases totalled over €600 million. The Government is committed to the introduction of a cost-of-disability payment and a lot of very good work is being done by the Minister, Deputy Calleary, my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and others. The consultation on that has closed. There was very good engagement from stakeholders, including people with disabilities and their representative bodies. I thank them for that. I need to keep saying, because it is true, that the measures we took have benefits for some sectors but they also have an overall economic benefit that helps everybody.”
“Come on, Pearse, give everybody a chance in this House. No bully-boy tactics, please. We support the Critical Infrastructure Bill. We will be happy to tease through the detail of it. The Deputy is right in that there are lots of factors involved. At times, environmental law can be a factor when there are projects we need to deliver at real speed. This is not about all projects; it is about those that are deemed to be critical. As the Minister takes the Bill through the House, he will engage constructively and tease through the detail.”
“At least your politics are honest in the sense that we can either agree or disagree on certain policy areas and you can criticise us and we can criticise you. You do not come into this House and constantly suggest the abolition of significantly important taxes and come up with a load of new spending ideas at the same time. That is not a sustainable position. It was very interesting earlier in the week that the House did not divide when it came to some of these issues. It did not divide along the lines of the big bad old Government over here and all of the Opposition together over there. We were better than that, or at least many of us were, in terms of trying to engage constructively. I appreciate that.”
“As a result of those changes, the approval of the grants for heat pumps is up 95%, roof insulation is up 81% and cavity wall insulation is up 62% as well. In fact, in March alone there were more than 6,000 grant applications for windows and more than 6,000 grant applications for doors. These are encouraging signs. On the issue of critical infrastructure, critical infrastructure can include renewable energy as well. I genuinely think that we can have different perspectives on this. It is taking far too long to deliver transformational projects, including transformational projects from an energy point of view. The Critical Infrastructure Bill tries to get that balance right.”
“Half of all electricity generated in this country in March came from renewables. It was the first time. I think it was 49%, just under half. We are making some progress. We need to do more and we need to do it faster because - and I agree with the Deputy on this point - as long as we are dependent on dirty fossil fuels from abroad, there is a security issue in every sense, including an economic security issue. However, we are making some progress under the work of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. We saw 58,000 homes retrofitted last year. We have seen a record demand this year, with over 29,000 applications already in. We have improved the grants. I am sure that the Deputy was hearing from his constituents that it was cumbersome to have to do everything together. I was certainly hearing it from mine.”
“I mean this sincerely: at challenging times in the history of this State, the trade union movement has stepped up time and time again and played a positive role. That does not mean, by the way, that we always agree on everything. I do not want to kill their street cred and I certainly do not agree with them on everything but having constructive engagement in process at times of challenge is something I value. This Government values it and I think this Oireachtas values it. I heard the comments of the general secretary of ICTU this week as well in relation to that. We should challenge ourselves, after the week that this country has had, to make sure we have very robust and constructive structures in place for ongoing engagement. I want to say that too. In relation to renewables, I will start with a positive.”
“Crucially, measures that we take to try to somewhat contain - because no Government can fully insulate - the impact of very significant rising costs caused by the war in Iran help keep inflation down or at least moderate the growth of inflation. That does genuinely have a benefit for all of us in society, including PAYE workers. I am really pleased that there is a meeting taking place tomorrow at the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF. As the Deputy knows, it is the body that brings together trade union representatives, employer representatives and senior members of the Government, including myself and the Taoiseach. It is more important than ever that we have really good and intensive engagement.”
“I thank Deputy Ahern for his question. I will reiterate my point that while there has been much discussion this week about various sectors that are vital to the Irish economy, whether they are farmers or fishers, hauliers or the likes, the fundamental point here is that this Government's package supports everybody because the PAYE worker and everybody else in this country needs food on the shelves. They need the ports operating, not blockaded. They need to make sure that our supply chains work. Many of the PAYE workers pulled up at petrol pumps this morning where the cost of petrol and diesel, while still too high, is lower than it was before we voted. In fairness, the Labour Party supported the cut on the excise this week as well.”
“Can I say something else? The Deputy had his time and I think the people deserve better than shouting and roaring. We cannot get through this global economic crisis if every week we come into this House-----”
“No, it is quite the opposite, in fact. People are living through very tough and very challenging times but Deputy Doherty has got to be honest with that person who wrote to him as well. The Deputy can talk about waving graphs, but facts matter. I had Sinn Féin's measures assessed by officials in my Department, and they came back and said it was not doable.”
“I had my officials look at Sinn Féin's proposal to return the carbon tax to the 2023 rates and to backdate this reversal to 1 May. I have been told that Revenue does not hold records of any individual end-users. Therefore, any retrospective adjustment is unlikely to be possible and could result in the unjust enrichment of suppliers, substantial administrative burdens and unanticipated costs to the Exchequer. This is not a question of a lack of empathy but one of making sure that the solutions we come up with together are practical and workable. We have a large package of measures in place and we will continue to work our way through this challenging time.”
“The measures Sinn Féin is likely to bring in today with respect to home heating oil will also be targeted measures and not universal measures. On the second thing we have done, it is important to listen and we listened when people in this House said that we should suspend the increase in carbon tax on kerosene and green diesel. We support the carbon tax, as do most of the Opposition although Sinn Féin does not, because it plays a very important role in funding the climate transition and in supporting farmers, retrofitting and those in fuel poverty. We introduced that suspension. Sinn Féin's solutions are not as easy as the Deputy suggests. I looked at one of those solutions. We should all look at people's ideas and be willing to engage on them.”
“It was not meant to be available to people this month. It is worth €152 per household as a result of that extension. That is costing €71 million. The Deputy will know that the households that are most in need from a fuel poverty point of view get that. He will know such households in his own constituency. We all know them. They include many pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and, crucially, many low-income working people who are in receipt of the working family payment. About a quarter of all households in the country now receive that payment. I ask the Deputy to let people know that. This is a targeted measure. I am watching what is likely to happen in Northern Ireland today, which the Deputy's party will know well through its role in the Executive.”
“I am holding up a table that proves that. This Government has taken action on behalf of the people of Ireland, introducing one of the very largest packages in the European Union. The details of the package are well known. There are reductions in the excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel. There is a package for farmers, farm contractors, agricultural contractors, hauliers, bus contractors, fishers and many important supply sectors of the Irish economy. The Deputy is also right that there is a real issue when it comes to the cost of home heating oil. On that much, we agree. However, we disagree on how to respond. We have taken steps to help people with home heating oil. We took a conscious decision to expand the fuel allowance season. The fuel allowance season was meant to be over by now.”
“That is because, as the Deputy knows, when you take measures to reduce energy prices, that has a positive effect in moderating the likely increases in the rate of inflation. While there has quite rightly been much discussion on fuel this week, we hope the measures we have been putting in place will have a broader positive impact in suppressing, insofar as possible, what is likely to be a growing rate of inflation. That is passed through directly when it gets to the supermarket floor. That is the first thing I would say. I will get to kerosene in a moment but the second thing I will say is that this is not a small package by any fair or objective measure. I presume the Deputy would acknowledge that. It is a package of a total of €750 million in supports. It is either the largest or one of the largest packages in the European Union.”
“I join with the Deputy in extending sympathies to the family, friends and community of Moya Brennan. She was a musical icon, a unique voice of extraordinary talent and somebody who played no small part in bringing Irish music to an international audience. May she rest in peace. I thank the Deputy for the question. This has been a very challenging period of time for the people of this country. The pressures that people are feeling are real. We are working constructively to endeavour, as best we can, to assist people at a time of huge global turmoil. There is sometimes an effort to divide society into different groups. Everybody will benefit from the energy package we have put in place.”
“26 of 2020)): "SCHEDULE 1 RATES OF SOLID FUEL CARBON TAX With effect as and from (1) Description of Solid Fuel Rate of Tax per tonne Coal Peat Briquettes Milled Peat Other Peat 1 May 2021 €88.23 €61.42 €30.44 €45.65 1 May 2022 €107.98 €75.17 €37.25 €55.87 1 May 2023 €127.74 €88.93 €44.07 €66.10 1 May 2024 €147.49 €102.68 €50.88 €76.32 1 May 2025 €167.24 €116.43 €57.70 €86.54 14 October 2026 €187.00 €130.18 €64.52 €96.76 1 May 2027 €206.75 €143.94 €71.33 €106.98 1 May 2028 €226.51 €157.69 €78.15 €117.21 1 May 2029 €246.26 €171.44 €84.96 €127.43 1 May 2030 €263.38 €183.36 €90.87 €136.29 ". (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927).”
“I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 78 of the Finance Act 2010 (No. 5 of 2010), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026, by the substitution of the following for Schedule 1 to that Act (as amended by section 29(b) of the Finance Act 2020 (No.”
“I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 67 of the Finance Act 2010 (No. 5 of 2010), that section be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026, by the substitution of the following for the Table to subsection (1) of that section (as amended by section 28(a) of the Finance Act 2020 (No. 26 of 2020)): "TABLE RATE OF NATURAL GAS CARBON TAX With effect as on and from (1) Rate of tax per megawatt hour at gross calorific value (2) 1 May 2021 €6.06 1 May 2022 €7.41 1 May 2023 €8.77 1 May 2024 €10.13 1 May 2025 €11.48 14 October 2026 €12.84 1 May 2027 €14.20 1 May 2028 €15.56 1 May 2029 €16.91 1 May 2030 €18.09 ". (2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No.”
“It reflects decisions taken by this Government to rebuild fiscal buffers, focuses on strengthening the foundations of the economy and represents the really hard work and resilience of the Irish people and businesses the length and breadth of this country which we acknowledge today as well. The package announced on Sunday is a further significant response to the real pressures being felt across the country. It will directly help people impacted by the unprecedented global crisis in energy supply. We have always indicated we will keep the situation under review and act again if necessary. That remains the position of the Government but this is a significant response to real pressures being felt by Irish households and businesses. It is one of the most comprehensive support packages in the EU. I support the three resolutions.”
“The combined cost per month of these supports to the transport sector is estimated at €40 million. I also want to thank the representatives bodies from that sector and the likes of the Irish Road Haulage Association and many others which extensively engaged over the weekend, and well in advance of the weekend too, for their constructive engagement. These further measures will also be in place for a defined period of time. As was the case in March, the Government reserves the option to adjust our approach as the circumstances globally evolve and as needs require. These supports are timely and necessary. In responding to the shock, objectively, the Irish Government has done more than most governments but this has only been possible because of the strength of public finances. That fiscal resilience has not happened by accident.”
“To support the haulage and coach sectors, the Government will be establishing a new road transporters support scheme, RTSS. This will be modelled on the licensed haulage support schemes of 2022 and 2023. Similar to the schemes that were deployed following Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, it will be deployed to assist the sectors with the higher fuel prices. The RTSS will provide direct payments to the haulage and coach operators. Payments will be graduated with smaller businesses receiving a proportionately greater level of support. That is important. For coach operators that provide Local Link and school transport services, a separate support measure relating to the contractual arrangements of those operators will be introduced. I know there has been significant concern around the issue of school transport services.”
“Farmers and agricultural contractors will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre on MGO use on the basis of verified fuel consumption in 2025. This is in addition to the excise changes I have already announced. The funding will be distributed proportionately, a point that was strongly emphasised in our ongoing engagement with the representative groups of farmers and farm contractors. This targeted and practical support package does ensure those most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance at the most critical time of the year. I appreciate the welcome that the IFA, the Irish national representative organisation for farmers, has given to this package. I thank it and the many other farming organisations for engaging over many hours at the weekend and prior to that and for their work.”
“It is why we took the decision, for example, to expand the fuel allowance scheme, which provides assistance to not far off 500,000 households, in recognition that not everything can be done through taxation. If you believe in the importance of funding the retrofitting, farming and fuel poverty schemes, you will see that carbon tax does play an important role and that, therefore, we have looked at other ways of supporting people with home heating costs by means, for example, of the extension of the fuel allowance. In addition to the tax measures being discussed, the Government has also announced a comprehensive €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs.”
“It also assists in addressing energy poverty. It supports our farmers. That is a point which is often lost in the debate. A significant amount of carbon tax goes into supporting our farmers, as the Minister, Deputy Heydon, knows, and also helps with retrofitting our homes. Deferring the increase on a temporary basis does recognise a significant turbulence we see in energy markets which has led to extreme price increases in fuels, such as kerosene and MGO, and therefore it seems to be a prudent thing to do. It is not possible to offset all of the recent increases, which are driven by market factors, using the tax system, and we have got to be honest about that as well. That is why we also have to look at what supports we can provide outside of the taxation system.”
“Because I genuinely believe in the carbon tax and the benefits it provides in terms of retrofitting and the move away from fossil fuels, and I note support from genuinely significant numbers of Members of the Opposition for the benefit of that as a policy, we intend the spend the same amount this year on these measures as was profiled and we will do that by running a smaller surplus. This is the first time the Government has postponed any carbon tax increase since the introduction of the carbon tax trajectory in 2020. It is genuinely not something we do lightly. As we have consistently stated, the carbon tax is an important part of our county's climate action strategy. The decision on this temporary postponement is not taken lightly, and the carbon tax trajectory does provide incentives to industry to decarbonise.”
“It has always been our policy to delay carbon tax increases on home heating fuels until 1 May each year. This allows for the passage of the winter heating season with the vast majority of fuel purchased between October and April, but in light of the extraordinary energy situation we feel it is now prudent to defer that planned May increase until later in the year. The estimated cost of this deferral is in the region of €22 million. In terms of the overall carbon tax revenue allocated for expenditure in budget 2026, which was over €1.1 billion, this represents approximately 2% of the allocation.”
“We will also reduce the excise on MGO, or green diesel, by a further 2.4 cent, VAT inclusive. Talking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account this brings the total reduction on MGO, or green diesel, to 7.4 cent per litre. As I said, this needs to be read alongside the specific sectoral package of supports brought in for those who use and are dependent on green diesel. All of these reductions will run until 31 July. The estimated cost of these further excise reductions and the extension of the initial reductions until 31 July 2026 is of the order of €260 million. In addition, the Government has decided to defer the planned increase in carbon tax scheduled for 1 May until 14 October. This will provide further support to consumers of green diesel, kerosene, natural gas, solid fuels and other relevant non-propellant fuels.”
“In addition, the NORA levy was reduced by 2 cent per litre for liquid fuels such as auto diesel, petrol, MGO and kerosene. Further to this diesel rebate scheme, the maximum repayment for road haulage and bus passenger operators was also increased to a maximum of 12 cent per litre. Today's financial resolutions provide for a second layer of intervention that I will now outline. We will reduce excise on auto diesel by a further 10 cent, VAT inclusive. Taking the 2 cent NORA levy reduction into account, this brings the total reduction on diesel to 32 cent per litre, VAT inclusive. We are also reducing the excise on petrol by a further 10 cent. Inclusive of the 2 cent NORA levy reduction, this brings the total reduction on petrol to 27 cent per litre, VAT inclusive.”
“There has been much engagement between then and now, and then and the Easter period with representative groups, including a lengthy meeting with the Minister for agriculture and I had with both the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and Farm Contractors Ireland, and the significant engagement the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney and others had with the haulage sector. Sunday's announcement builds on the March measures to provide a comprehensive and far reaching package of support. It is objectively a comprehensive and significant package of support well in excess of what many other European countries have done per head of population. In March, as colleagues know, we legislated for excise rate reductions of 15 cent per litre for petrol, 20 cent per litre for auto diesel, and 3 cent per litre for MGO.”
“2 provides for the deferral for the planned 1 May increase on natural gas carbon tax, also until 14 October. Financial Resolution No. 3 provides for the delay of a planned 1 May increase on solid fuel carbon tax, also until 14 October. As we stated at the outset of our response to this fuel crisis, our initial package of measures in March was temporary and targeted. At the time, we also stated that it was a first step and that the Government would continue to monitor and review this situation on an ongoing basis and would respond further as required.”
“1 provides for the extension of the excise rate reductions which were introduced in March and which are due to run until 31 July. It also introduces a further reduction in excise rates, bringing the overall level of excise reduction to 30 cent per litre for auto diesel, 25 cent per litre for petrol and 5.4 cent per litre for marked gas oil, MGO, in addition to the specific agricultural package that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, has brought in. All of these are on a VAT inclusive basis with the reduction in the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy pending further relief. Financial Resolution No. 1 defers the 1 May carbon tax increase on MGO, kerosene, heating oil and other relevant fuels until 14 October next. Financial Resolution No.”
“(2) IT is hereby declared that it is expedient in the public interest that this Resolution shall have statutory effect under the provisions of the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1927 (No. 7 of 1927). In accordance with what the Ceann Comhairle said, I will later move the other two financial resolutions. I will begin by outlining the detail of the most recent actions which have been taken by the Government to endeavour to support people through what is an extraordinarily challenging time and an extraordinary energy shock. These decisions that we are putting before the Dáil this evening will reduce the cost burden at the petrol pump, support those most at risk of energy poverty and assist key sectors that are critical to keeping our economy moving. Financial Resolution No.”
“26 of 2020)): "SCHEDULE 2A Carbon Charge Light Oil: Rates per 1,000 litres Heavy Oil: Rates per 1,000 litres Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Rates per 1,000 litres With effect as on and from: Petrol Aviation Gasoline Used as a propellant Used for air navigation Used for private pleasure navigation Kerosene used other than as a propellant Fuel oil Other heavy oil Used as a propellant Other liquefied petroleum gas Vehicle gas: Rate per megawatt hour at gross calorific value 1 May 2021 €77.52 €77.52 €89.66 €89.66 €89.66 €84.84 €103.23 €90.81 €54.68 €54.68 €6.06 13 October 2021 €94.87 €94.87 €109.74 €109.74 €109.74 €84.84 €103.23 €90.81 €54.68 €54.68 €6.06 1 May 2022 €94.87 €94.87 €109.74 €109.74 €109.74 €103.83 €126.34 €111.14 €66.93 €66.93 €7.41 12 October 2022 €112.23 €112.23 €129.81 €129.81 €129.81 €103.83 €126.34 €111.14 €66.93 €66.93 €7.41 1 May 2023 €112.23 €112.23 €129.81 €129.81 €129.81 €122.83 €149.45 €131.47 €79.17 €79.17 €8.77 11 October 2023 €129.59 €129.59 €149.89 €149.89 €149.89 €122.83 €149.45 €131.47 €79.17 €79.17 €8.77 1 May 2024 €129.59 €129.59 €149.89 €149.89 €149.89 €141.82 €172.56 €151.81 €91.42 €91.42 €10.13 9 October 2024 €146.94 €146.94 €169.96 €169.96 €169.96 €141.82 €172.56 €151.81 €91.42 €91.42 €10.13 1 May 2025 €146.94 €146.94 €169.96 €169.96 €169.96 €160.81 €195.67 €172.14 €103.66 €103.66 €11.48 8 October 2025 €164.30 €164.30 €190.04 €190.04 €190.04 €160.81 €195.67 €172.14 €103.66 €103.66 €11.48 14 October 2026 €181.65 €181.65 €210.11 €210.11 €210.11 €179.81 €218.79 €192.47 €115.90 €115.90 €12.84 1 May 2027 €181.65 €181.65 €210.11 €210.11 €210.11 €198.80 €241.90 €212.80 €128.15 €128.15 €14.20 13 October 2027 €199.01 €199.01 €230.18 €230.18 €230.18 €198.80 €241.90 €212.80 €128.15 €128.15 €14.20 1 May 2028 €199.01 €199.01 €230.18 €230.18 €230.18 €217.80 €265.01 €233.13 €140.39 €140.39 €15.56 11 October 2028 €216.37 €216.37 €250.26 €250.26 €250.26 €217.80 €265.01 €233.13 €140.39 €140.39 €15.56 1 May 2029 €216.37 €216.37 €250.26 €250.26 €250.26 €236.79 €288.12 €253.47 €152.64 €152.64 €16.91 10 October 2029 €231.41 €231.41 €267.66 €267.66 €267.66 €236.79 €288.12 €253.47 €152.64 €152.64 €16.91 1 May 2030 €231.41 €231.41 €267.66 €267.66 €267.66 €253.25 €308.15 €271.09 €163.25 €163.25 €18.09 ".”
“I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 15 April 2026— (a) by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2 to that Act: "SCHEDULE 2 RATES OF MINERAL OIL TAX Light Oil: Rates per 1,000 litres Heavy Oil: Rates per 1,000 litres Liquefied Petroleum Gas: Rates per 1,000 litres With effect as on and from: Petrol Aviation gasoline Used as a propellant Used for air navigation Used for private pleasure navigation Kerosene used other than as a propellant Fuel oil Other heavy oil Used as a propellant Other liquefied petroleum gas Vehicle gas: Rate per megawatt hour at gross calorific value 10 March 2022 €474.11 €474.11 €413.51 €413.51 €413.51 €84.84 €118.01 €120.55 €118.27 €54.68 €9.36 1 April 2022 €465.98 €465.98 €405.38 €405.38 €405.38 €84.84 €118.01 €120.55 €118.27 €54.68 €9.36 1 May 2022 €465.98 €465.98 €405.38 €405.38 €405.38 €103.83 €141.12 €111.14 €130.52 €66.93 €9.36 12 October 2022 €483.34 €483.34 €425.45 €425.45 €425.45 €103.83 €141.12 €111.14 €130.52 €66.93 €9.36 1 May 2023 €483.34 €483.34 €425.45 €425.45 €425.45 €122.83 €164.23 €131.47 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 June 2023 €532.12 €532.12 €466.10 €466.10 €466.10 €122.83 €164.23 €140.28 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 September 2023 €589.03 €589.03 €506.75 €506.75 €506.75 €122.83 €164.23 €149.09 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 11 October 2023 €606.39 €606.39 €526.83 €526.83 €526.83 €122.83 €164.23 €149.09 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 April 2024 €638.91 €638.91 €551.22 €551.22 €551.22 €122.83 €164.23 €163.96 €142.76 €79.17 €9.36 1 May 2024 €638.91 €638.91 €551.22 €551.22 €551.22 €141.82 €187.34 €184.30 €155.01 €91.42 €10.13 1 August 2024 €671.43 €671.43 €575.61 €575.61 €575.61 €141.82 €187.34 €199.17 €155.01 €91.42 €10.13 9 October 2024 €688.78 €688.78 €595.68 €595.68 €595.68 €141.82 €187.34 €199.17 €155.01 €91.42 €10.13 1 May 2025 €688.78 €688.78 €595.68 €595.68 €595.68 €160.81 €210.45 €219.50 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 8 October 2025 €706.14 €706.14 €615.76 €615.76 €615.76 €160.81 €210.45 €219.50 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 25 March 2026 €584.18 €584.18 €453.15 €453.15 €453.15 €160.81 €210.45 €193.06 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 15 April 2026 €502.88 €502.88 €371.85 €371.85 €371.85 €160.81 €210.45 €172.14 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 1 August 2026 €706.14 €706.14 €615.76 €615.76 €615.76 €160.81 €210.45 €219.50 €167.25 €103.66 €11.48 14 October 2026 €723.49 €723.49 €635.83 €635.83 €635.83 €179.81 €233.57 €239.83 €179.49 €115.90 €12.84 1 May 2027 €723.49 €723.49 €635.83 €635.83 €635.83 €198.80 €256.68 €260.16 €191.74 €128.15 €14.20 13 October 2027 €740.85 €740.85 €655.90 €655.90 €655.90 €198.80 €256.68 €260.16 €191.74 €128.15 €14.20 1 May 2028 €740.85 €740.85 €655.90 €655.90 €655.90 €217.80 €279.79 €280.49 €203.98 €140.39 €15.56 11 October 2028 €758.21 €758.21 €675.98 €675.98 €675.98 €217.80 €279.79 €280.49 €203.98 €140.39 €15.56 1 May 2029 €758.21 €758.21 €675.98 €675.98 €675.98 €236.79 €302.90 €300.83 €216.23 €152.64 €16.91 10 October 2029 €773.25 €773.25 €693.38 €693.38 €693.38 €236.79 €302.90 €300.83 €216.23 €152.64 €16.91 1 May 2030 €773.25 €773.25 €693.38 €693.38 €693.38 €253.25 €322.93 €318.45 €226.84 €163.25 €18.09 ", and (b) by the substitution of the following for Schedule 2A to that Act (as amended by section 27(2)(d) of the Finance Act 2020 (No.”
“-----who joined the protests too because they are feeling the pinch, decent people who need our help and assistance. They will remain our focus. They will remain our focus every day, including in our resolutions tonight.”
“My Department will shortly publish its updated economic assessment. At moments like this, it has always been abundantly clear that we have an Opposition that has no shortage of spending plans but no strategy for growth.”
“We now have the fiscal power to respond to external shocks. That was not always guaranteed. The external environment that we face is clouded in considerable uncertainty. Whatever the developments are in the Middle East over the coming days, the economic fallout of the conflict is likely to persist given the lasting a real damage to energy infrastructure. As a result, the supply-demand imbalance in energy markets is likely to continue for some time. Although we cannot, of course, know the scale of the imbalance, it will depend on an array of factors. Ireland, as a small open economy, will always feel these global shocks but we are better prepared than we have been in the past. We entered 2026 from a position of relative economic strength. We expect the Irish economy to continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace than previously envisaged.”
“Today it stands at 62%. That reduction did not happen by accident. It happened because successive Governments, including this one, have run structural primary surpluses, have treated windfall corporate tax receipts as temporary rather than permanent revenue and have made deliberate decisions to sterilise those receipts into long-term saving funds. Our positive fiscal position-----”
“These are signs of continued confidence in our economy among firms and households despite a more uncertain backdrop. As well as steering the economy through the challenges of recent years, our public finances are in good shape. The choices that matter most often get the least attention. In 2012, Ireland's public debt stood at 163% of national income.”