DONEGAL Deputy Pearse Doherty has said that families across Donegal are being hammered by massive increases in the cost of home heating oil and fuel.
He has accused energy companies of exploiting the crisis in the Middle East to drive up prices while the government refuses to intervene.
Deputy Doherty, the Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance, said the scale and speed of the increases raise serious concerns about price gouging.
“People across Donegal have been contacting me in shock at the huge jump in the price of home heating oil and fuel in recent days,” he said.
“Families were already under enormous financial pressure. Now companies appear to be exploiting international events to squeeze even more profit out of households who are already struggling.
“Some households are reporting increases of hundreds of euros for a delivery of heating oil, while motorists are also seeing sharp hikes at the pumps.
“These hikes are happening in real time. Prices have surged by massive amounts in just days.
“It looks like blatant price gouging and it is a brazen rip-off happening in plain sight.
“The government should be hauling the bosses of these companies in and demanding answers.
“They need to make it clear that exploiting a crisis to fleece households will not be tolerated.
“The government’s response so far has been completely inadequate, pointing out that the Taoiseach refused to reconsider planned carbon tax increases even as fuel prices surge.
“Yesterday in the Dáil, the Taoiseach acknowledged that there is ‘no excuse’ for price gouging. But in the very same breath he doubled down on the government’s plan to increase carbon tax.
“That tells you everything you need to know about how out of touch this government is with the pressure people are under.
“Instead of simply asking regulators to review the market, the government must take direct action to protect households.
“Families cannot be left at the mercy of companies hiking prices while the government sits on its hands.
“Government need to intervene to stop this rip-off and scrap plans to increase carbon tax that will only drive up the cost of heating homes even further.
“Right now families feel like they are on their own. People in Donegal need to know that their government has their back.
“That has to change – and it has to change quickly.”
