Laois Government TD breaks ranks by backing fuel protestors' demand

The Government should concede one of the key demands made by fuel price protestors around the country, according to one of the longest serving TDs in Fianna Fáil.

Laois TD Sean Fleming, who is a former Minister of State at the Department of Finance, believes the Government should cap fuel prices as has been called for by protesters on the blockades.

"As a Government TD, I am calling on the Government to cap fuel prices now. Since prices went up at the pump, the Government is getting more money from taxes, and I believe it is important to keep costs down at costs down at this stage for the entire economy and this will keep inflation down because if costs go up people will want wage increases to match," said the long-serving TD. 

"It would be cheaper for the Government in the long term and add stability to the economy by keeping costs down, inflation down and I am asking the Government to do that," he said in a social media post.

Elaborating to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, the TD said he had held this position prior to the protest beginning. 

He said he believed that the cost of a cap could be funded by the increase in taxes that it was taking due to the rising prices. Dep Fleming said the tax take had increased beyond what was expected in the Budget for 2026.

"I would say the Government is getting a windfall tax, which I would say should be used to keep the prices down and inflation down and thereby keep demands for increased wages down also," he said.

Dep Fleming, who came under fire in 2022 for calling on the public not to complain about prices and shop around to get better prices, said he would not put a figure on the cap as he had not done the calculations, but insisted it would give "absolute certainty".

Laois is the location for one of the key motorway blockades at the M7 Junction 17 roundabout on Portlaoise's outskirts.

Dep Fleming said he had met with the protestors in Portlaoise at the blockade. He said he was very clear in saying he did not agree with blocking Ireland's full depots.

"I said I did not agree with them blocking the terminals where the oil comes in. I said whatever about prices going up, blocking fuel being distributed in the country is not something I agree with," he said.

Asked how he would explain his position to his party leader and Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Dep Fleming said there is merit in what he is saying and he wants stability and lower costs.

"Anything that keeps costs down is good for the economy. Anything that adds to costs going up adds to inflation and that is a vicious cycle," he said.   

He made the call on social media on the same day as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said requests for fuel price caps or a pause to carbon tax increases would undermine the overall economy and are not "in the best interest of the public".

"We understand that upset that is there, and the government can't shield the public from every element of the fallout of this conflict right now.

READ NEXT: Irish Road Haulage Association not taking part in protests

"What we can do is use the tools available to us in the best way possible," he told reporters.

"Some of the things that have been asked for, like price caps, would actually have a counter benefit."

Mr Heydon also said the public should "have trust in the Government" to address the crisis.

"Undermining the overall economy is not in the best interest of the public at this time, where we're facing a very uncertain geopolitical future.

READ NEXT: 'I'm standing with them' - Laois senator backs fuel protesters

"So, that's why people have to trust that the Government, while working with all the representative bodies, is doing everything it can within the scope of the tools available to us and will continue to examine the opportunities further for us," he said.

The Government has put the Army on standby to help gardaí remove blockades from fuel depots and other critical infrastructure like motorways.