Brian Stanley: Fuel and heating costs risk empty supermarket shelves
Brian Stanley warns that rising diesel and home-heating costs have created a cost-of-living emergency, putting hauliers and middle- and low-income households under severe pressure. In this address he urges the government to halt the planned March carbon tax increase, avoid further VAT rises and target direct supports for those most exposed.
Immediate figures: Raw diesel and home heating
Brian Stanley outlines the scale of the problem: raw diesel is reported at €2.10 a litre and home heating costs in the state have risen at a rate he says is eight times the European average. He explains how diesel and heating price surges are driving wider price increases across agriculture, haulage and everyday goods.
Supply chain risk: Hauliers and empty shelves
He highlights warnings from the Irish Road Haulers Association that, without tax reductions and direct supports, many haulage operators will not be able to absorb rising costs - a development that could lead to empty supermarket shelves. Stanley stresses that truckers and hauliers are under severe pressure and require immediate assistance to maintain supply chains.
Household impact: arrears and exposure
Stanley points to increasing household hardship: one in six are in arrears with electric bills and many households, particularly in rural areas and County Leash, are highly exposed due to reliance on home heating oil and long commutes. He frames the crisis as a present and growing threat to middle and low-income families.
Policy asks: freeze increases and target support
He calls on the government, Tánaiste and Ministers to halt a further VAT rise and to reverse the planned March increase in the carbon tax. Stanley urges that carbon tax revenue be used to fund targeted credits and direct support for vulnerable households and the haulage sector to prevent deeper disruption and hardship.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Prior to the war in the Middle East, the Imperial Isle War, being waged by the USA and Israel, we already had a cost-living crisis. We're now really in a difficult situation. Raw diesel in Co. Talaiseach, the lowest you get it for, is £2.10 a litre and it continues to increase. Home heat in Isle, the increase in this state is eight times the average increase of what it has been across Europe. 500 litres that was for 480 is now 585 euros from suppliers in the Midlands at the moment. Almost double in price. And of course once fuel goes up, everything goes up, all other goods. Higher costs for agriculture, higher costs for haulage, higher costs for couriers and carriage. Hauliers are very exposed, Tánaiste and Ministers, very exposed. Truckers and hauliers are under severe pressure and need assistance to get through the current crisis. And today the Irish Road Haulers Association has said that without a tax reduction and direct quotation, many haulage operators will simply not be able to continue to absorb the rising costs, which would result in empty supermarket shelves. Middle and low-income households, they're really under pressure. Financial hardship, you know, a really, really severe situation. One in six in arrears with electric bills can't pay them. One in four gas billers does have gas. Households in the Midlands and in County Leash are very exposed because of the high number on Home Heaton Isle, that depends on Home Heaton Isle, in rural areas and in areas where there isn't natural gas. Also the number of homes that have low energy rating. People have longer commutes in the county as well, which that obviously brings its own problem because people obviously have to fill the tank to get to work. So the government can do a number of things. They can halt the additional increase, any additional increase in the VAT, because VAT is coming on a percentage, and reversed again so far. Don't go ahead with the increase in carbon tax. Accept that you're collecting carbon tax, and that's fine, and use it, and use it well. But don't go ahead with the planned increase in March, and target injured credits and support for middle and low-income households.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
