DUBLIN, Ireland: The Government is doing a balancing act with fuel prices even as it prepares for the worst, said Tánaiste Simon Harris in Nenagh, County Tipperary, on March 30.

Harris spoke as new figures showed that higher energy costs had pushed Ireland's inflation rate to 3.6 percent.

Last week, the government announced several measures to address rising fuel prices following the war in the Middle East. These included a temporary cut in fuel taxes, a wider diesel rebate scheme for transport operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

Harris said the new inflation data showed that last week's measures were the right decision. However, he said the government would not introduce travel restrictions. He noted that people had already adjusted their habits due to higher fuel prices, but said there were no plans to change their travel schedules.

During the visit to Nenagh, the Tánaiste said the government was continuing to review the situation. He warned that if the conflict continued for a long time, it would create serious economic challenges worldwide, and Ireland would also be affected.

He said the government needed to strike a balance between helping people now and saving resources for the future. He added that Ireland was in a relatively strong position, with full employment, budget surpluses, and financial reserves. However, he pointed to warnings from the International Energy Agency that the current global energy crisis is larger than the crises of 1973, 1976, and 2022 combined and is still worsening.

Harris acknowledged that people in Ireland and around the world were feeling very frustrated. He said Ireland would respond and get through the crisis from a position of strength, but advised that the best approach was to act carefully, step by step.

He added that the government was continuing discussions with different groups, including farmers and contractors, and was trying to balance immediate support with preparation for a potentially difficult future.

He said the government was taking practical steps to help and had carried out one of the largest per-person support measures in the European Union last week. However, he stressed that no government could cover all the rising costs, as it would not be economically possible.

He said the situation would be reviewed regularly, with decisions made each month on the best advice and level of support for people. He also clarified that there were currently no concerns about energy supply.