President of the Road Haulage Association has said said that truck drivers are “finding life very difficult”

This comes following comments from Tánaiste Simon Harris that government may soon ask the public to conserve energy and fuel supplies as the Iran war continues.

CEO of FFI, Kevin McPartlan, said: “The wholesale price paid by FFI Members for fuels has continued to increase over the last week, diesel is up more than 11c per litre according to the Portland Price index. These input costs are then subject to all taxes and levies.”

“It is a little bit better today, which will impact on deliveries to forecourts within a couple of days. But between last Wednesday and this Monday the wholesale diesel price has increased. When you add the VAT, that’s 13.5 cent on every litre of fuel.”

Energy minister Darragh O’Brien said he was bringing forward “some suggestions and assistance” on how people and businesses “can use energy appropriately and conserve energy.” He also said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was bringing forward measures for EU states next week.

Minister O’Brien said he has not had any communication from public transport operators about concerns around fuel supplies or cutting services.

“We’ve obviously got to monitor this, and we do every single day. We’re not being complacent about this. There are no threats or fears to our public transport sector, or indeed, our haulage sector.”

President of the EU Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen has said she will bring a “toolbox” of solutions to high energy prices forward next week.

“We’re not going to be able to soften every increase in costs, but I am awaiting next week, I think there will be specifics,” Minister O’Brien said.

The government has also said that there are currently no supply concerns in Ireland or in Europe and that there is currently no plan to advise mass working from home.

Commenting today on diesel and petrol prices having risen again in recent days following a cut to excise on fuel, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “my best sense at the moment is that the cuts were passed on [to the consumer], overwhelmingly so, but that we are obviously seeing the oil price situation worsen.

“Government stands ready to take further action should that be required,” he added.

Communications officer for the Irish Road Haulage Association, Francis Fitzgibbon, told the Irish Independent that one retailer in Kerry is now selling diesel at €2.20.

President of the association, Ger Hyland, said that truck drivers are “finding life very difficult”.

“Very few businesses are left viable now; the sector is really under pressure. Prior to any price hikes, we were struggling as a sector and had members that were no longer viable. Fuel increases have really exacerbated that problem and compounded it.”

Mr Hyland cited the return of carbon tax in a number of weeks’ time, along with higher toll costs, pension auto enrollment and an increase in the minimum wage as pressurising drivers.

Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), said his members are also financially constrained.

He said: “Retailers, prior to the most recent crisis, would have a maximum gross margin of 4pc on the VAT-excluded wholesale price, 5 to 6 cent. I can guarantee you that this pc figure has been reduced, and that at the moment, few, if any, independent service stations are managing to get more than 4 cent a litre, before all the above costs are met.”

Of the 1,500 members of the CSNA, 300 retail motor fuel, with Mr Jennings adding that these businesspeople are being stretched while the market remains unpredictable.

“There are enormous fluctuations on a daily, sometimes twice daily basis.

“We pay for that fuel within 3 days of delivery, regardless of whether it has all been sold. This can be upwards of €70,000, money the owner must pay to ensure his next consignment is delivered.”

EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen has said that Europe is facing a dire situation and has asked for member countries to follow advice issued by the International Energy Agency.

He said this included “work from home where possible, reduce highway speed limits by ten kilometres, encourage public transport, alternate private car access … increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practices.”