Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has slammed some petrol stations owners who he claims are involved in “price gauging.”
The Sinn Fein TD said the cut to excise duty on petrol and diesel has been “immediately eroded” with fuels costs higher today. than earlier in the week.
He said some petrol stations are still charging over €2 a litre of fuel.
The Government introduced a cut of 20c per litre on petrol and 15 cent per litre of diesel, which took effect from midnight last night.
The measure, introduced amid concerns about growing pressures on the cost of living, will last until August 31st.
The Government estimates that the measure will cost €320 million.
Despite the slash in excise duty, many drivers were seeing prices above €2 a litre.
“The price in most filling stations this morning is more than what they were on Tuesday morning,” Mr Doherty said in the Dáil.
“The reduction has been immediately eroded and that is the likely trajectory.
“Prices are going to continue to go up and up. It’s something that ordinary workers, ordinary families simply can’t afford because it comes on top of already skyrocketing cost of living.
“People are panicking out there. People are struggling.
“They’re struggling to make ends meet and the Government doesn’t seem to understand that, doesn’t seem to understand the pressures of workers and families are under, doesn’t seem to understand that businesses and farmers are now being pushed to the pin of their collar because half measures simply doesn’t cut it.
“You could have done more”.
