Laois Senator says government failing to act on rising fuel prices

A Laois Senator has accused the government of failing to act as fuel prices continue to rise. 

Rising diesel and petrol costs are hitting rural counties like Laois hardest, according to Senator Maria McCormack. 

The Laois based Sinn Féin Senator said her party will bring a motion before the Dáil this week demanding urgent action to tackle the soaring cost of home heating oil, petrol and diesel. 

The Private Members’ motion, which will be debated today, calls on the government to immediately intervene to reduce fuel prices and scrap planned tax increases on home heating oil.

Sen McCormack said the debate will give Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael an opportunity to act to protect workers and families facing severe financial pressure.

“Workers and families are already struggling through a relentless cost-of-living crisis, and the continued rise in the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil is making an already difficult situation even worse,” she said.

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“In Laois, I am hearing every single day from people who are being pushed to the brink. Families who rely on their cars to get to work, bring their children to school, or attend medical appointments simply cannot absorb these rising costs any longer,” Sen McCormack stated. 

She said “rural counties like Laois are being hit hardest. People do not have the luxury of public transport alternatives — they depend on their cars and on heating their homes. Yet this government continues to sit on its hands while prices spiral.”

According to Sen McCormack, “record numbers of households are already struggling to pay their energy bills, with many falling into arrears and others on the brink. The number of people at risk of poverty is rising — and yet the government is refusing to act. That is simply not good enough.”

Sen McCormack says Sinn Féin’s motion sets out clear, immediate actions:

“Sinn Féin is calling on the government to scrap the planned tax increases on home heating oil due to take effect on 1 May, and to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil by implementing our Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill 2026.This is about giving people real, immediate relief — not empty words or delayed promises.”

She said “this debate is a clear test for the government and every TD. They can choose to stand with struggling workers and families, or they can continue to stand over inaction while people are being hammered by rising costs. People need relief now — not in six months, not next year, but today.”