DONEGAL TD and Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty, has said the government must listen to the public and reduce excise on home heating oil.
Addressing the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, Deputy Doherty said:
“Your government is still not listening. Right across this state, over 750,000 households rely on home heating oil to keep their homes warm. For them, this crisis isn’t abstract. It is immediate.
“Despite everything that has happened over the past number of weeks – despite the protests, despite the pressure, despite the clear message from workers and families right across the state – you still haven’t reduced excise on home heating oil by a single cent. Nothing.”
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, Deputy Doherty accused the government of adding insult to injury, as many of those who protested last week today returned home to find parking fines landing through their letterboxes, and added: “This is a response that punishes people who were already pushed to the brink, people who didn’t have money last week, and now you’re asking them to fork up hundreds of euro in parking fines.”
He said the government must stop making life even harder for people, and said: “I ask you directly, how do you justify standing here and refusing to decrease excise on home heating oil by a single cent?”