Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has suggested people should slow down while driving to make the fuel in the car tank last longer.
It comes as the Government has announced a cut in excise duty on petrol by 20c and diesel by 15c.
The Minister for Finance said that this measure will reduce the cost of 60 litre tank of petrol by €12 and 60 litre tank of diesel by €9.
Minister Ryan, who is responsible for the Climate, Energy and Transport said the cost of driving increases dramatically when they go over a certain speed limit.
When asked if he means people should drive slower to reduce demand on fuel, Minister Ryan said: “Yes in certain instances, when you go above certain speed limits the actual use of fuel increases dramatically, the cost of driving increases dramatically as one practical example of what people can make in the tank go further.”
Minister Ryan said Sustainable Energy Authority will bring out a public information campaign in the coming days to help people understand how they make changes in order to ease up on demand for fuel.
Minister Ryan was speaking at a press conference with Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.
The Ministers admitted the excise duty cut may not help significantly as prices are expected to continue to rise.
Fuels for Ireland said that in the past 24 hours, the cost of diesel on wholesale markets rose by 22c a litre.
Minister McGrath also said that it would be “unwise to suggest we will not experience further adverse cost of living effects,” and mentioned the cost of construction, energy and food.
Minister Donohoe said the price recess were the consequences of war in Ukraine.
He said: “Government wants to be very honest in what we can do, we can help in covering the costs in helping to make a contribution... but not in a position to insulate our economy or country from the global pressure taking place..”
Minister Michael McGrath also said the cost to the State will be significant as a result of thousands of refugees who will come to Ireland.
He said “it’s fair to say the cost will be in the hundreds of millions of euros to the State,” but said it’s impossible right now to put a final figure on it as it’s not yet known how many refugees will arrive here.
He said that the Government can meet the cost and that we can afford it and the costs involved are “insignificant” in comparison to the pain and suffering Ukrainians are facing.
