Council seeks answers on ‘price gouging’

Cavan County Council is to confront Government leaders amid mounting anger over alleged “price gouging”, with councillors set to write directly to the Micheál Martin and Simon Harris over the spiralling cost of fuel.

The move follows a debate during the council’s March monthly meeting, triggered by Independent councillor Brendan Fay, who revealed his phone “hasn’t stopped” ringing with complaints from furious residents.

Many callers, he said, believe suppliers have seized on global turmoil to drive up prices - particularly for home heating oil - following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

Cllr Fay recounted one example where on the day fighting broke out, a delivery of 1,000 litres of home heating oil cost €940. Just days later, the price for the same amount had rocketed to €1,275 - a surge he blasted as an “absolute disgrace”.

The councillor warned such spikes could hit the most vulnerable hardest. Referencing comments from Taoiseach Micheál Martin that “there is no excuse for prices going up at the pump”, he said the situation was becoming increasingly alarming for households already under pressure.

Backing the motion, Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly said he had also been tracking the cost of heating oil and had witnessed sharp increases within just a week. However, he urged homeowners to “shop around”.

Support also came from Sinn Féin’s Stiofán Conaty, who insisted “price gouging” is happening and said the situation smacked of “rip off Ireland”. He compared the hike in fuel prices to the way hotel costs rise in Dublin around major matches or big concerts.

Fianna Fáil’s Patricia Walsh shared concerns about the impact on vulnerable groups.

But Independent Ireland councillor Shane P O’Reilly pressed the chamber for clarity on what exactly the council was demanding - asking whether they are seeking cuts to Carbon Tax, Excise Duty, or both.

He challenged Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley on the “prescribed” offer: that the council would ask the country’s leaders to ensure fuel prices do not “increase unduly”.

Cllr O’Reilly also questioned why Minister Darragh O’Brien was in Brazil while the crisis continues to unfold at home.