Fuel rationing on Irish forecourts could be on the way in the autumn, EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has warned.
She said it “could be a reality” as we face an “increased energy risk” in the coming months.
The war being waged by Russia in Ukraine has sent the prices of petrol and diesel skyrocketing in recent months, driving inflation and contributing to the cost of living soaring.
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However, there was no good news on the EU helping out with the cost of living from the Irish Commissioner when she met with Irish journalists in Brussels on Tuesday afternoon.
The EU has sweeping powers to intervene and grant Ireland permission to introduce cost of living relief in areas such as taxation, price controls and subsidies.
But Ms McGuinness said the Commission would be keeping a watching brief for now, while they “may do more” at a future date.
Instead, Ms McGuinness signalled that if the squeeze on fuels continues in the coming months, which is most likely, then fuel rationing may have to become part of everyday life.
The last time this happened in Ireland was in the 1970s and it caused chaos at the pumps.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror from the Berlaymont building in Brussels, Ms McGuinness said: “We’re trying to make sure that when it comes to increased energy risk in the autumn and winter that we’re ready for it.
“But then yesterday in Germany the German energy minister said that we need to look at energy rationing, that could be a reality.”
Ms McGuinness said this would be something that would be introduced over the heads of consumers at a political level.
“It’s something we try to avoid, but it is a level above the individual, the household, the family, we’re aware of all these issues.”
An EU Commission official indicated to the Mirror that EU chiefs are at the same time working on further relief measures for households if fuel prices keep rising.
He said: “we are looking at something additional around energy that would, we hope, tackle the escalating price of energy.”
The Commissioner is not in favour of capping prices on food or groceries.
“On food price inflation, some can afford it and many cannot, so it’s again up to the Member states to see if they can target.
“But the issue of pricing and actually interfering with the pricing of things, not so sure that would be on our radar.”
Ms McGuinness also reiterated that the ramping up of sanctions against Russia by the EU in the coming months will hurt Irish consumers.
She said: “there will always be pain when we introduce new sanctions.”
