Deputy Michael Healy Rae TD has called on the Government to immediately "slash taxes to reduce impact of higher energy costs".

The Independent Kerry Deputy says the Government needs to act on the European Commission DIY toolkit aimed at mitigating the impact of higher energy prices, by slashing taxes and offering help to impacted households, motorists, and sectors such as agriculture and road transport.

He was making his comments in light of what he called “the Taoiseach’s failure to fully acknowledge the crippling cost-of-living crisis forced ordinary families”.

“I'm tired of hearing Government responses stating that this crisis is beyond their control and escalated by outside forces. This is just an abdication of responsibility of a Government who have simply no answers other than to tell people to grin and bear it.”

He believes that the Government need to immediately reverse the decision to increase the carbon tax in Budget 2022 and beyond, until the impact of the energy crisis is fully understood and a cost-to-benefit analysis undertaken, by whatever parliamentary means necessary, including new legislation, if required.

“This is a serious issue for every single family out there. It requires a proper response from the State.”