Overview
- The Coalition must decide within about 10 days whether to extend temporary excise reductions that were due to end at the end of July, with the Dáil needing to act before it rises in mid-July.
- If the cuts are not renewed, petrol would rise by about 27 cent and diesel by about 32 cent from August 1 under the Finance Bill passed last week.
- Ministers say they will monitor international oil-price trends, including market moves after a recent US–Iran memorandum of understanding, and take a view on an extension in the next week or two.
- Political tensions are high: Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused Sinn Féin of trying to 'engineer' protests while Sinn Féin tabled amendments to block the August price rise and urged immediate action to protect households.
- Authorities warn of public-order risks after April blockades that halted central Dublin, and protest organisers have signalled the possibility of fresh action timed to the end of supports and Ireland’s EU Presidency.