Micheál Martin declares €2 diesel the 'new norm'

If you want to understand exactly how detached the political establishment is from the daily reality of ordinary citizens, look no further than Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s latest pronouncement on the fuel crisis.

Speaking from the comfort of the Fianna Fáil think-in in Tullamore, Martin casually informed the public that diesel prices staying above €2 a litre is simply the “new norm.” There was no urgency. There was no commitment to immediate action. Instead, the leader of the country essentially told the Irish working class to shut up, pay up, and get used to it.

The Establishment’s Excuses

The Taoiseach blamed the “volatility around the Middle East.” This is the establishment’s favourite trick: blame everything on global events so they never have to take responsibility for the crippling taxes they impose on their own citizens.

Let’s look at the facts. According to recent fuel watch data, when you pay roughly €1.92 for a litre of diesel, over 39% of that price (74 cents per litre) goes straight to the government in the form of VAT, excise duty, and carbon taxes. When you pay for petrol, a staggering 47% goes to the State. The government is directly profiteering from the misery of motorists, but Martin expects us to believe that the Middle East is the only reason working people can’t afford to drive to their jobs.

Forgetting the Protests

Does Micheál Martin have amnesia? The €2 threshold is exactly what triggered the massive, nationwide fuel protests earlier this year that saw blockades in Dublin and Galway and brought the country to a standstill.

Back in April, when protesters blockaded the Whitegate Oil refinery to demand a break from crippling prices, Martin had the nerve to label their actions “national sabotage.” When the working class demanded relief, they were treated like criminals. Now, months later, when the prices are surging again, Martin’s response is that we must “stand back a bit.”

He claims the government needs time to look at “the medium term” and balance “wider budgetary pressures” before deciding if they will intervene. Translated from political speak: we are not going to cut our tax take, and you will just have to endure it.

Working families, small businesses, and rural communities who rely on their vehicles are being financially bled dry. But to the Taoiseach and his €256,000 taxpayer-funded salary and state car, €2 a litre isn’t a crisis. It’s just the “new norm.”