The point I am making here is this-----

The fundamental point I am making is that revenue generated across the economy, be it income tax, VAT or whatever, is used to invest in services such as education, health, social protection and across the board. That is the bottom line. The Government has decided to reduce petrol by 20 cent a litre and diesel by 15 cent a litre. It is not possible to remove all excise duty as the Deputy has suggested. It simply cannot be done.

We are not all as intelligent as the Deputy is, clearly, based on what she is saying.

The point is that we cannot do it. I am going to be honest in saying that.

I am not going to pretend to the public that I can solve this-----

-----given what is happening internationally.

It is a reality that people understand. We need to make decisions and choices about how we use people's money to alleviate pressures. A month ago, we took a decision to use €500 million to particularly help those on fuel allowance and on low incomes.

All people can expect the €200 cut to the electricity bill.

Other expenditures will also arise from this war.

Yes, there will be and we are being honest with people in saying that.

The point is that more expenditure will be required. We are only in March and we have already allocated an extra €800 million in about five weeks because of the international crisis and the war. That is the reality. No government wants to preside over escalating energy and fuel prices. We want to cushion the blow for people, both for households, for whom we would do more if we could, and in respect of the price at the pump. However, this is an internationally traded commodity. That is a fact and we have to deal wit…

With the greatest of respect to the Deputy, the Government is being honest with the people and will continue to be straight with the people about the crisis before us.

The Deputy needs to understand that there is a war on, which is the fundamental factor behind the exponential growth in oil and gas prices. As for our response to that, we are reducing the price of petrol and the price of diesel. That is what the Government is deciding right now. In addition, the Government has decided to give additional supports to people through cuts in electricity payments of €200, €125 for those on the free fuel allowance, a reduction in public transport fares, which will benefit 800,000 people…

-----and other measures. We will work consistently on this to try to protect people and families.

This is not of the Government's creation. The Deputy should be honest enough to acknowledge that-----

-----but her desire for the sound bite triumphs every time over the bottom line.

Everybody in the House realises-----

-----the impact of this on people on the ground, and there will be other impacts, as I said earlier, in respect of food and so on.

The way forward is through energy efficiency, doubling down on renewables-----

-----and dealing with the geopolitical situation.