Decisions on fuel costs must come from Westminster, not Stormont, O’Neill says

Political decisions to bring relief to people in Northern Ireland struggling with fuel costs have to be made at Westminster, not Stormont, Michelle O’Neill has said.

The First Minister was responding to criticism that the powersharing Executive had not taken action to respond to rising costs.

Meanwhile, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said he does not think those dealing with the rising cost-of-living crisis will benefit from being stuck in traffic jams caused by fuel protests.

Fuel costs have soared globally as a result of the US-Israel war with Iran.

Ms O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly last week wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to bring forward a package of support measures for people in the region.

Speaking at Stormont as MLAs returned from recess, Ms O’Neill said the Executive was “carrying the can” for policy decisions made in London.

She said: “The Executive is in a really, really difficult financial position because of decisions that have been taken in London and we are trying to protect people from those decisions.

“People understand that the Assembly has a limited number of fiscal powers, the levers that you reach for to help people actually sit in Westminster, whether that is cutting tax on fuel, then it has to be done at a Westminster level.

“I am not apologetic of banging on the door of Westminster on behalf of the people that I represent.

“It is only there that those decisions can be taken.”

Fuel protests along motorways in the Republic of Ireland are continuing to cause traffic disruption.

Although blockades at fuel depots and Ireland’s only oil refinery have been lifted, smaller protests continued on motorways around Dublin.

Social media posts have called for similar protests at several locations in Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Asked if she supported the protests, Ms O’Neill said “people are angry”.

She added: “They are watching the global volatility, they are watching what the US are doing, what Israel is doing or what the British Government are doing.

“They are watching that people are choosing war over people, they are watching that governments are choosing a militarisation agenda over helping people to get through every day of the week.

“That to me is not a good political choice.

“I know that if you are sitting at home and you are angry and you want to have your voice heard then some people will choose to protest and I accept that is going to be the case in any democratic society.”

Mr Robinson said he did not want to see any disruption to emergency services or medical appointments.

He added: “We all know the pressures people are facing, we can see how much this crisis is hurting and we understand the need for a response.

“In Dublin the protests were targeted at a government who have levers at their disposal.

“It is the Westminster government that will be able to bring forward the significant changes that people wish to see.

“Whilst I understand and support people’s right to protest, I think it is important to reflect at this stage that I don’t think we would benefit from widespread disruption.

“I don’t think anyone who is struggling with fuel costs would benefit from sitting in an idling queue with their engines turning over and their fuel being wasted.”

The DUP leader added: “I think it is important that the First and deputy First Minister wrote to the Prime Minister on Thursday.

“We know the concerns of people out there, not just domestically, but commercially.

“Anyone who is having to fill up a vehicle, they are suffering at the moment with the increased costs.

“These are issues which can only be dealt with by Westminster.

“The deputy First Minister was right to issue her call for the Prime Minister to offer a support package for families, particularly here in Northern Ireland and also to look at those issues around VAT and duty on fuel.”

Mr Robinson said Communities Minister Gordon Lyons would bring a proposal to the Executive this week about distributing £17 million in support for home heating oil customers.

Alliance Party deputy leader Eoin Tennyson accused the DUP and Sinn Fein of “bickering, petty point-scoring and blame-shifting” at a time when people are struggling.

He added: “The Executive alone cannot bear down the pressures that people are facing, we need to see action from the UK Government to cut fuel duty.”

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said: “It is important to remind people, the Executive aren’t without power and agency here.

“The default reaction to every crisis can’t just be a letter to London.

“We have written today to the First Ministers and the Secretary of State asking them to work together to put in place a package of measures.

“We don’t have the firepower to do absolutely everything but there are numerous actions within their power which are not being taken.”