The Taoiseach has doubled-down on advice from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to visit the dole office for help if rising prices at the pumps means you can’t afford to fill your tank.
The Taoiseach said “anyone” can go to a social welfare office if you are struggling to meet the rising costs of the fill-up for your car or van.
He then said there was “no doubt” that the cost of living crisis has been caused by “Putin’s war” and he defended his transport minister saying he is a “minister of integrity.”
Read More: Eamon Ryan says motorists struggling to pay for fuel should 'go to their social welfare office'
Micheál Martin was challenged in the Dáil over the daft advice from the Green Party leader that people should head to the social welfare office for help if they can’t cope with the rising cost of motor fuel.
The advice was slammed again today by the opposition, with Social Democrats TD, Jennifer Whitmore, saying the advice was “insulting” and “out of touch.”
Mr Ryan was asked on Monday what people should do with petrol and diesel prices still rising fast, and he advised them to “go to their social welfare office and look for further assistance.”
The Taoiseach was tackled on his minister’s advice by Kerry independent TD Michael Healy Rae during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday.
Mr Healy Rae said: “The Taoiseach owes it to every Deputy in this House to clarify whether a person who needs money can go to a social welfare office and say he or she cannot afford the fuel for his or her car, bus, van, tractor or lorry.
“Can that person say he or she was told by the Minister that he or she could come to the office for help.
“Will that person get help?”
And Mr Martin responded: “The social welfare system is there, for anybody who is in genuine hardship, to go to seek assistance, that is well known.
“That is what the Minister, Deputy Ryan, was referring to.
“It is wrong to take the Minister's words out of context and undermine a minister of integrity.
He added: “The bottom line is that people are under pressure, there is no doubt about that.
“There is no doubt about it being caused by Putin's war.”
Mr Ryan’s comments were criticised by other opposition politicians too.
Ms Whitmore said: “To be honest, the frankly ridiculous comments from Minister Ryan yesterday when he said people who were finding it difficult to pay for their fuel should go to their social welfare office, that really does show how out of touch they are.
“It was an incredibly impractical and insulting suggestion to make to people.”
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