Taoiseach rules out fuel rationing and remote-work mandate as opposition calls €250m support package ‘simply not enough’
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Key updates
No plans to ration fuel as Taoiseach defends €250 million energy package
Excise duty on diesel to be cut by 20c and petrol to be cut by 15c, Government announces emergency tax measures on fuel
Explainer: Some airlines cancel flights to Middle East until mid-September
Revealed: How much war in the Middle East is expected to add to average grocery bill in Ireland this year
Donal O’Donovan: Markets can’t keep up with war in Iran, and that’s going to be bad for the real economy
Trump raises hopes for war to wind down but no sign of reduced fighting
Fuel measures: Government to cut taxes on petrol by 17c and diesel by 22c for the next two months
Sam Kiley: Trump forced to hit pause as Iran exposes limits of power without a plan
Eoghan Moloney
US expected to send thousands of additional soldiers to Middle East, sources say
The Pentagon is expected to send thousands of troops from the elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to the massive military buildup even as the Trump administration seeks talks with Iran.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not specify where in the Middle East the troops would be sent to and when they would arrive in the region.
The US military referred to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Reuters
Around 14,000 Irish citizens remain in the Gulf region, while most of those who were visiting on holiday or transiting through region when the conflict broke out have now likely returned home.
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee told a Cabinet meeting today that the conflict in the Middle East led to the "most significant consular crisis since the Covid pandemic".
More than 19,000 Irish citizens registered their presence in the Gulf countries with the Department of Foreign Affairs since the conflict broke out on February 27.
Consular assistance has been provided to 2,500 citizens, which is normally the caseload for an entire year.
Two repatriation flights and the resumption of commercial flights have allowed many of those who wished to leave the Gulf to return home.
A Government spokesperson said this afternoon that it is understood that most of those travelling to or transiting through the Gulf countries have now "likely" been able to travel back to Ireland.
Around 14,000 Irish citizens, who are mainly long-term residents, remain in the region.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has set up a 'rest of the world' team to reach citizens stranded in other parts of the world, including in South East Asia, not immediately affected by the conflict.
They have since made contact with more than 350 citizens and provided direct assistance to 100.
Maeve McTaggart
Maeve McTaggart
Eoghan Moloney
Shrapnel from Iranian drone peppers homes in Lebanon
A man stands next to damage on a building wall after shrapnel from an intercepted Iranian missile made impact in Sahel Alma, a Christian town north of Beirut, Lebanon. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Eoghan Moloney
Top official says US still assessing how to test nuclear weapons
A senior State Department official on Tuesday said that the US still is assessing how to implement President Donald Trump's order to resume US nuclear weapons tests.
Undersecretary of State Thomas DiNanno for Arms Control and International Security told a Senate committee that no discussions have been held on conducting atmospheric nuclear tests.
Reuters
Amy Blaney
Amy Blaney
Amy Blaney
Mr Martin said 41.3pc of electricity demand had been generated by renewables in 2024. "We are actually a renewables success story," he said, adding that there was a target for 60pc renewables within the short term.
Mr Collins said the farmers in West Cork were only getting 2 cent a litre off green agricultural diesel, and asked when offshore wind farms would start to be seen. The only one in existence was due for decommissioning, he said.
Mr Collins said the farmers in West Cork were only getting 2 cent a litre off green agricultural diesel, and asked when offshore wind farms would start to be seen. The only one in existence was due for decommissioning, he said.
The Taoiseach said a competition for offshore wind had approved five projects that were due to be in place by 2030, "marking a new phase in offshore generation in Ireland."
Ireland had a poor record on the discovery of fossil fuel reserves. "We have Kinsale and Corrib, and that's about it," he said.
Senan Molony
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
Low-paid workers who did not receive the fuel allowance often relied on home heating, Mr O'Callaghna said. He asked why these people were "invisible" to the Government.
Mr Martin said the working family allowance was applied to this area, and there was extended eligibility. He said the Government's commitment today was €250 million, whereas for the whole of the United Kingdom the London Government had applied £53 million Sterling.
Micheal Collins of Independent Ireland said the Government was "sleepwalked" into the fuel crisis by not being properly prepared. The "Green programme" of the last Government was "coming home to roost."
The State had been content to milk motorists for decades, he said, claiming the Barryroe oilfield offshore had not been exploited.
"We didn't just leave ourselves open, we left ourselves defenceless," Mr Collins said, calling for a national plan for energy independence.
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
The Social Democrats had called for a €400 energy credit for the 800,000 people who needed it the most, Mr O'Callaghan said.
But the Government had not even bothered to look at the proposals, he said. "There is a huge gap between what you say and what you do," he added, claiming the Budget last year had left the poorest people worse off.
The Taoiseach said: "We are three weeks into a war. We need some perspective here. The Government doesn't have billions and billions."
"It would be the easiest thing in the world to introduce a €2 billion package today - but this is only March."
He warned that a lot of the fuel price increase had not yet "filtered through" to the economy in terms of increased inflationary pressures.
Senan Molony
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
Mr Martin said the Government was thinking of measures for the October Budget "where we can get arrears down for people," suggesting some mechanism to help address unpaid power bills.
He said the international recommendation was for "targeted, temporary measures," and that was what the Government was doing.
Ms Bacik said the package was "just not enough" and the VAT cut to "burger barons" in the last Budget was three times higher, even though he acknowledged it was the biggest fuel shock experienced this century.
The Taoiseach said hospitality provided a lot of "minimum wage jobs" and not just at that level - people the Labour Party should be standing up for - and the Government had taken its decision last year in order to protect jobs.
Cian O'Callaghan of the Social Democrats asked where are the targeted supports for those who needed it most. The Government was doing "the bare minimum" and it was scratching the surface of the problem.
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said that the package of supports was "simply not enough" and "too little and very late".
A woman had emailed her to "convey her disgust and unhappiness" at an electricity bill of €600, and hundreds of thousands were in arrears with their energy bills around the country, she added.
A woman had emailed her to "convey her disgust and unhappiness" at an electricity bill of €600, and hundreds of thousands were in arrears with their energy bills around the country, she added.
Other countries had pivoted early to renewables, with Spain generating 60pc of its power in this area. The Government needed to display some of the same "real leadership," she said, instead of handing Donald Trump a bowl of shamrock in the White House.
Mr Martin said the Government was limited in how it could react, and was being realistic. It was trying to protect people on the lowest incomes and people generally.
The reduction in excise duty "take a bit of pressure off people, but we acknowledge freely that it doesn't deal with the whole of the crisis."
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government had no intention to be reckless with the crisis, but would instead be responsible, he said.
"We don't know what's around the corner," he said in relation to the Middle East conflict.
There were special measures for the haulage industry because it was central to the economy, he said.
Mr Martin said Sinn Féin advocating spending " two or three billion now," he said, but he asked: "What do we do in October?
"What do we do in December?"
Sinn Féin had two economic ministers in Northern Ireland, where people were receiving about £30 support, "and there's no comparison to what we're doing here," he said.
Ms McDonald said the Government always claimed things were unaffordable, "when the coffers are full." But when the bankers and developers came calling, that was a different story.
"Not alone is it stingy and mean and detached, but above all it reveals your priorities," she said.
Mr Martin rejoined that Sinn Féin had been courting bankers and developers in the United States, and "you speak out of both sides of your mouth."
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
The Government's fuel cushioning package "doesn't go far enough" and is full of half-measures, the Dáil has been told.
"It has taken relentless pressure from Sinn Féin and massive public anger to force you to react," said Mary Lou McDonald.
"You looked on as prices spun out of control. When households needed a Government of action, then got your Do Nothing Government," she said.
The stand-out failure is on home heating oil, and the Government has abandoned 750,000 people. The reduction in this area is only €20 on a fill now costing up to €1,700, she said.
The measure on the fuel allowance was also "paltry" she said, and the four week increase in eligibility "won't make a difference."
She told the Taoiseach Sinn Féin would move amendments to the Government proposals to strip away excise duty from petrol and diesel.
Senan Molony
Amy Blaney
Livestream: Leader's Questions in the Dáil
Amy Blaney
Opposition slams 'underwhelming' support package
Opposition TDs have said the "underwhelming" package of supports announced by Government today could be "wiped out" by next week due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
The Government has been called on to seek assurances from energy companies that the cuts in excise duty will be passed onto consumers as soon as possible.
But there are also concerns that any cuts in the excise duty on fuel could potentially be "wiped out before the middle of next week" as prices continue to rise.
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the Government had "dithered" for four weeks on the issue and have now "fallen very short of the expectations of the public".
"They're sat on their hands, they've talked about monitoring the situation, and people have paid the price."
Mr Doherty said the package announced today "doesn't cut it" and Sinn Féin will be putting forward an amendment that would look for the maximum reduction for diesel and petrol."
"It's an insult to people who are depending on home heating oil to heat their homes that the Government have decided to not remove any of the excise duty from home heating oil and basically told those families that they are on their own," he said.
Labour TD Ged Nash described the package announced today as "timid, anaemic, and underwhelming".
While he welcomed the immediate intervention to cut excise duty, he said there needs to be a commitment from Government, retailers and industry bodies that the reductions will be felt at the pump.
Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore described the measures as the "bare minimum" and an opportunity to introduce further targeted measures was missed.
She said increases at the fuel pumps were almost "immediate", which "needs to be reflected" following the cuts in excise duty announced today.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told reporters this morning that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East will lead to further price hikes, which could potentially see any reductions "wiped out before the middle of next week".
"The Government gives 20c on diesel, 15c on petrol tonight, that literally could be gone tomorrow. This is an inadequate measure."
Maeve McTaggart
Maeve McTaggart
Amy Blaney
Measures to kept 'under review', says Taoiseach
The Taoiseach reiterates the package and measures will be kept under review but there are "fiscal limits".
"We have a bit of time to be ready for the next winter period, and make sure we have sufficient resources if we have to intervene in the next winter period. That's why energy efficiency communications are important as well.
"But there are limits to what we can do because we have budgetary necessities as well," Mr Martin says when asked if the package could over time balloon to billions of euro over the months ahead.
Mr Harris says prices at the pump on petrol and diesel should come down quickly "to make sure the benefit" of the excise cuts is passed on.
Conal Thomas
Conal Thomas
Amy Blaney
Harris defends decision around home heating oil
Mr Harris defends the decision around home heating oil as warmer weather lies ahead, but says the Government has the option of "flexibility should this conflict" worsen.
"Some of the measures we've done are universal. Some are targeted. We have decided, accepting that fuel poverty is a real issue for many people in this country, we have decided to expand the best initiative we have to deal with fuel poverty, which is the fuel allowance scheme that is due to expire.
Minister [Dara] Calleary has brought forward proposals to extend it for further four weeks. That means assistance for pensioners, for carers, for people with disabilities," he says.
Mr Martin again rejects opposition calls by Sinn Féin to delay the Carbon Tax increase in May, saying it provides for "vital initiatives" like retrofitting and sustainable farming.
Amy Blaney
Government not contemplating rationing fuel, says Taoiseach
In response to earlier criticism that the package does little for those accessing home heating oil or heating their homes with gas, Mr Martin says the excise cuts will benefit all "but there are limits to what Government can do.
"We're very conscious of the volatility around this", but "we are retaining a degree of flexibility here," he says.
"We're very conscious of the volatility around this", but "we are retaining a degree of flexibility here," he says.
Following moves by Slovenia to ration fuel in recent days, Mr Martin says "we're not contemplating rationing right now.
"As we saw during the crisis [following] the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a lot of people were very quickly adapted in terms of energy efficiency, households, in terms of various behaviours and so on, like that. And in commercial outlets and retail and so on like that. A lot of energy efficiency measures were adopted," he says.
Amid calls to introduce mandatory remote working and reduce speed limits, Mr Martin says the Government "is not giving specific advice to businesses on that" and that there is already widespread remote working in the public service.
Roads Minister Sean Canney encourages people "to drive slowly" in a bid to reduce fuel usage.
Conal Thomas
Conal Thomas
Amy Blaney
Excise duty on diesel to be cut by 20c and petrol to be cut by 15c, Government announces emergency tax measures on fuel
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says "this is a moment of great instability in the world" as he announces the Government's energy relief package.
"It is a targeted, temporary, affordable intervention aimed at protecting living standards and maintaining economic stability and competitiveness through temporary excise duty reduction, improvements to the diesel rebate scheme, helping a haulage sector that is vitally important to the smooth running of our entire economy.
"We are investing in the region of €250 million in cushioning the worst impacts of the price shock for those most exposed and those most vulnerable. All of the measures we're introducing today are time bound and subject to ongoing review based on market developments.
"All of this is a stark reminder, if such were needed, of how important and how precious our access to energy is, it demonstrates the central strategic importance of our investment in renewables and energy storage, our investment in retrofitting, our investment in interconnection, our investment in a strategic LNG reserve, our investment in the defence of our overseas infrastructure."
"All of this is a stark reminder, if such were needed, of how important and how precious our access to energy is, it demonstrates the central strategic importance of our investment in renewables and energy storage, our investment in retrofitting, our investment in interconnection, our investment in a strategic LNG reserve, our investment in the defence of our overseas infrastructure."
Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris says in a "best case scenario we would see a swift resolution and the normalisation of energy supply in 2026" but in worst case scenario "this becomes a much more prolonged conflict with significant economic global consequences".
Mr Harris confirmed a number of measures including a cut in the excise duty on diesel by 20c while the excise duty on petrol will be cut by 15c.
There will be a suspension of the National Oil Reserve Agency (Nora) levy of 2c per litre, which will bring the effective cuts to 17c on petrol and 22c on diesel. This cut will also apply to home-heating oil.
These excise measures will take effect from midnight tonight, subject to a financial resolution being passed in the Dáil.
Changes to the Nora levy will require legislation that is likely to be passed in the Dáil this week.
There will also be a diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, which will be backdated to January and keep supply chains functioning.
The fuel season, which was due to end on March 31, will be extended into April.
Conal Thomas
Conal Thomas