The upcoming price hike on petrol and diesel will put “serious pressure on border communities”, according to TD Pearse Doherty.
The Sinn Féin deputy leader has called on the Government to scrap the fuel price increase, saying it will harm ordinary people already struggling with the cost of living.
He told Newstalk Breakfast people bordering Northern Ireland will feel the most pressure.
“It’s a serious pressure on border communities where petrol is now going to be 20 cents less across the border,” he said.
“That's one of the things that we said to Government last year when we argued that we needed to keep the reduction in excise duty in place for another six months.
“You need to look at and monitor the international markets, you need to look at the price point that is being charged.
“What we got from the British government is they decided to actually extend their reduction for another 12 months.”
Deputy Doherty said this will put pressure on those with “petrol stations, family businesses” on the Republic side of the border as customers may flock to Northern Ireland.
“Any Minister for Finance worth their salt would actually be looking at all of the different pressures that are on families,” he said.
Price hike and 'pressure on ordinary workers'
Deputy Doherty also said he recently spoke to a single mother of three who needs a car to drop her children to school that will face more financial pressure by the increase in fuel prices.
"What we're seeing very clearly is that the Government has never taken in more tax in petrol and diesel than they are now,” he said.
“If you look at when this Government took office, they were taking in €236 million on VAT, on petrol and diesel.
“That number is going to increase this year... when they finish their plan to hike petrol and diesel three times this year, they will have been bringing in more excess duty than ever before.”
The Sinn Féin deputy leader also noted that just because prices are rising at a more “moderate” level than before doesn’t mean there is not huge pressure on consumers.
“Should the Government at this point in time be trying to reduce the pressure on ordinary workers and families? Yes.” he said.
The Government announced in March there would be four price hikes in fuel in the next 12 months.
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