Protests against fuel price increases are continuing today. In response Paul Murphy has repeated calls for the Government to enact the Emergency Price Controls Bill to cap energy prices; to introduce universal energy credits; and to make public transport free.
On Monday People Before Profit will host a press conference to announce comprehensive proposals to cut prices and protect incomes in response to the cost of living and energy crises. The proposals will include price caps, a demand for free public transport and for a universal €500 energy credit funded by a levy on data centres.
Paul Murphy said:
“People are paying very high prices for fuel and energy, all on top of the financial strain of higher grocery price inflation and increasing rents. The Government's recent cost of living measures were extremely limited and people are still paying close to €2 per litre for petrol and diesel and close to €1,000 for a half fill of their oil tank.
“In these circumstances it’s no surprise that there are protests on the streets to demand meaningful Government action. The contrast between the weak response of the Government to the energy price crisis and its slavish fulfillment of every demand from corporate landlords and developers is clear to everyone, and they are angry about it.
“These protests come as we approach two years since I first introduced the Emergency Price Controls Bill in the Dáil. The provisions of the Bill proposed to set maximum prices for petrol and diesel at €1.75 per litre, and for home heating oil at €1 per litre. If the Government had supported our Bill at any time during the last two years people would not now be facing this energy prices crisis.
“On Monday, People Before Profit will host a press conference to announce our comprehensive proposals to cut prices and protect living standards in response to the cost of living and energy crises. In addition to price caps, our proposals include a demand for free public transport and for a universal €500 energy credit that would be funded by a levy on data centres.