Mineral Oil Tax: Financial Resolution
Dail Éireann — 2026-08-28
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Brian Brennan (FG), Wicklow-Wexford

I warmly welcome today's financial resolution. It is very clear that we are in a completely different situation from the one we were in back in July. Fuel costs are continuing to increase right across the board and there is no sign of stability in the Middle East.
Over the past two months, I have met many of my constituents, including Breen Transport in Ferns and bus and taxi companies in Gorey and Arklow. In my rural constituency, it is obvious that the agricultural sector is hugely concerned about fuel costs. I have also met ordinary commuters who get up for work every morning and this is a huge concern for many of them.
I ask for two things. The first is that these supports remain under review, and there must be no deadline on that. We simply do not know what is around the corner geopolitically. Second, with winter around the corner, I ask that the Government address home heating oil in the budget and find a way to offer support. Pensioners are genuinely scared of what will happen this winter. These are people who have paid their taxes and made huge contributions to their communities in our towns and villages. Their voices may not be as loud as others but our pensioners deserve to be heard.
We need a solution. While it may not be in Ukraine or on the Strait of Hormuz, as sure as night follows day, we will be back here again facing another geopolitical situation where fuel costs increase yet again. Why not look at solar energy and continue the roll-out of solar panels? They should be on every house, industrial premises, school and shed in Ireland. Tonight, not one bulb will be lit using energy from the Irish Sea. A planning application for 53 wind turbines off the coast of Arklow is tied up in the planning process. It must be expedited. We need these turbines because we need to take control of our own energy. We are too dependent on imported fossil fuels.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-08-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-31T01:00:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-08-28