Thomas Byrne

And it's not just a case of the fuel price.

It's a case of fertilizer prices.

It's a case of helium prices and supply of some of those goods as well, which in Africa, let's be honest, is going to cause millions of deaths.

And we're all governments, I think, are trying to navigate it with the hope and the expectation and the urging on the Americans that there would be.

that there would be an end to this, and the Iranians as well, that if they can come to peace talks to end this, it brings relief to everybody.

And I have to say, I do question how long politically the US can take fuel price increases, because they've had them as well, and people can see what the particular reasons were for that.

And I would hope that we will see some change in that that could bring some relief to it.

It is a serious crisis, and that's why we've given extra support on the fuel allowance.

That's why we have reduced diesel prices.

And that's why I don't disagree with the idea of windfall profit tax for energy companies, particularly if the electricity price goes up and renewable companies then make a fortune because of the way the market is structured at the moment.

We've done it before.

So I think we can do it again if that proves to be necessary.

And that could then pay for relief for people.

But I think that there is work ongoing in government in terms of the issue of arrears, which I absolutely accept is serious.

But certainly anybody that's in difficulty should contact their particular energy provider.

And also people who are under fuel allowance are entitled to call...

sustainable energy Ireland which the carbon tax is paying for to get work done to their house to reduce their fuel bill so I certainly encourage people to do that I know the opposition will come back and say we're not doing enough I want to do more but a huge number of them want to cut the carbon tax which then cuts projects like that

Middle class families don't get the fuel allowance, so they can't access these free grants.

Yes, they can get some grants.

But what that's designed to do is reduce our overall dependence on natural gas and oil, actually, but natural gas in particular and the electricity price in order that we can get prices down and start producing the stuff ourselves and not be subject to the whims of other people outside Ireland and outside Europe.