Fitzmaurice Issues Scathing Rebuke of Government Over Failure to Address Green Diesel Costs Driving Housing and Food Crisis

Independent Ireland Agriculture Spokesperson Michael Fitzmaurice has delivered a scathing rebuke of the Government, accusing it of having “no interest” in reducing the cost of housing due to its failure to tackle soaring green diesel prices.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Fitzmaurice warned that rising fuel costs will have a direct and devastating impact across housing delivery, infrastructure, and food production.

“The Government has zero interest in reducing the cost of housing. Every aspect of building houses requires green diesel. Failure to address the soaring costs will be passed directly onto homebuyers and will only exacerbate the crisis we face in affordable housing and housing delivery.”

Deputy Fitzmaurice highlighted the real-world impact on construction and infrastructure projects:

“Every digger working on a housing site today is costing an additional €120 per day in diesel alone. The same applies to dumpers, to machinery working on water and sewerage infrastructure—every single piece of equipment is more expensive to run because of these increases.”

He criticised what he described as a tokenistic Government response:

“Green diesel has gone up by roughly 70 cent per litre, and the Government is giving back a measly 5 cents. It is completely disconnected from reality. The point blank refusal to act on carbon tax is going to impact every aspect of housing delivery, infrastructure and food production and the people will suffer as a result”

The Independent Ireland TD warned that the knock-on effects will be felt across the entire economy:

“You cannot build houses without quarries. The crushers, the loading shovels, the machinery—they all rely on green diesel. If you continue down this road, you will cripple the housing sector.”

Deputy Fitzmaurice also raised serious concerns about the impact on farming and food production, particularly as the silage season approaches:

“A silage harvester takes up to 1,000 litres to fill. That’s an extra €600 to €700 every time it’s filled. In many cases, it needs to be filled again later the same day. Where is that money supposed to come from? There is no rebate, no support—nothing.”

He warned that these costs will inevitably feed into higher food prices:

“Farmers and contractors cannot absorb these increases. The pressure will be passed on right through the system, ultimately hitting consumers at the checkout.”

Deputy Fitzmaurice concluded by accusing the Government of implementing poorly thought-out policies that ignore the realities of rural Ireland:

“This is ill-thought-out policy-making at its worst. There are elements I welcome, but when it comes to green diesel, the Government has got it completely wrong. The consequences will be severe—for housing, for infrastructure, and for the future of Irish agriculture.”