“We don’t anticipate fuel rationing in coming months” – Taoiseach

DUBLIN: The Taoiseach has said he does not anticipate fuel rationing in Ireland in the coming months.

Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Irish government has put in place rolling contingency plans for if oil and gas supplies reach crisis point in the winter. This is to ensure that essential workers are given priority to access petrol and diesel.

Micheál Martin told reporters that the government is not anticipating the possibility of rationing. “But the situation in relation to Russian supplies of gas in particular to Europe will be a matter of ongoing concern and impact,” he added.

“We currently import a lot of our gas from Norway and the United Kingdom and in terms of oil, we have reserves, but the global situation is very, very challenging. And so we will plan for all eventualities,” Mr Martin said.

He said the immediate concern of the government is the continued price impact that the energy crisis is having on the people. Therefore, the budget to be announced in September will look at measures to deal with more medium to long-term issues of people’s spending, he added.

The Taoiseach also said that he hopes the cost of living package in the budget would help ease the pressure on the people.