Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has said a decision on whether to proceed with an increase on excise duty on petrol and diesel will be taken in the context of the Budget.
Speaking in Co Tipperary, where the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in is under way, he said he was "very conscious of where prices are at" with a barrel of oil costing $70 in July but now costs more than $90.
Mr McGrath said the "legal position" is that the excise increase goes ahead at the end of October, but added that the Cabinet is not "blind to the reality" of higher oil prices.
The minister said it was appropriate to take the decision in the context of planning for the Budget as this was "well ahead" of the scheduled excise price hike.
Housing targets
Meanwhile, Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien will provide an update on the Government's Housing for All policy.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said that Housing for All targets are being exceeded but "we need to keep at it".
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said housing completions increased by 40% last year while first-time mortgages have "gone way up".
The Tánaiste added that there are sizable grants and schemes to help first-time buyers and people are spending less time in emergency accommodation.
WATCH: @MorningIreland interview with Tánaiste Micheál Martin from the Fianna Fáil think-in in Co Tipperary | Read more: https://t.co/f6LNpe6KYU https://t.co/4zUPljQTxM
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 12, 2023
Although the population is rising dramatically and creating additional pressures, there is momentum in the housing sector, he said.
Farmers protest
Separately, Mr Martin said farmers protesting outside his party's think-in are entitled to articulate their concerns.
This is not the first think-in where protests from farmers or other organisations have taken place, he added.
Regulations aimed at reducing water pollution from nitrates mean that, across Europe, farmers are only allowed to produce 170kg of organic nitrogen per hectare on their farms.
Ireland's derogation agreement with the commission allowed a minority of more intensively stocked farmers to produce 250kg per hectare.
Mr Martin said he and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue had a constructive meeting yesterday with the executive of the IFA.
He acknowledged that the nitrates directive will cause challenges for farmers.
He said the Government have to work to see how to alleviate pressures on those most affected while retaining the nitrate derogation.
General Election
Speaking to the media on the first day of the think-in, Mr Martin also declared that he would lead the party into the next general election, saying: "Yes I will be, absolutely."
He contended that a "whole range" of Sinn Féin policies were "incompatible" with Fianna Fáil and regarding possible future coalition options, he said: "They wouldn't be our first choice, at all."
Mr Martin accused Sinn Féin of being "anti-enterprise", warning that the party is also "anti the entrepreneurial culture that has been central to the economic development of this country over decades".
He claimed Sinn Féin was "anti-European" and would "reach for the tax weapon" if there was an economic crisis in the future.
Mr Martin also derided Sinn Féin's climate change credentials claiming the party was "particularly two-faced" and "lacking any commitment" to the issue but instead preferred playing politics.
The Tánaiste also accused Sinn Féin of being "very, very slow to bring closure to the victims of Provisional IRA violence".
Mr Martin said that the electorate will decide "the numbers" but his party will "stick to its policies".
Read more: When is absolute absolute? Martin and his big decision
It is understood Fianna Fáil is pushing for a possible cut to the Universal Social Charge, however, with the Budget several weeks away, the coalition has not finalised any decisions.
USC was introduced in December 2010 at the height of the financial crash.
It applies to all earnings for those receiving a gross income of over €13,000.
Govt to make RTÉ funding decision in next 'four weeks' - McGrath
Minister McGrath said RTÉ will have to "prove" that there's been "a change in culture" before the Government will be able to consider giving interim funding.
He said a decision will have to be taken in the next "four weeks or so".
Mr McGrath added: "Fundamentally, the government needs to be assured that there is a genuine change of culture in the organisation. We will need demonstrable proof of that."
He said Director General Kevin Bakhurst had made a "very good start" and there were "clear signs" already that things are changing.
Asked how RTÉ could prove it had changed, he said: "There will be private discussions whereby Minister [for Media] Martin will need to be satisfied that she can bring a recommendation to Government for public money to be made available."
Mr McGrath said that while RTÉ has been "very badly damaged" by recent controversies, the Government would stand behind public service broadcasting as it was "fundamental to our democracy."
The Cabinet was told last week that RTÉ had sought €34.5m in interim-funding but, due to the dramatic fall-off in licence fee payments, the station also faces a loss of €21m this year.
Mr Martin added that the public should pay their €160 TV licence, saying: "It's a legal obligation to pay your licence fee."
He said that Ireland needs "public service content" as otherwise "we end-up with Fox News, GB News and a variety of algorithms determining our news feed".
He said the government has to take decisions on the funding of public service broadcasting and "lead on it."
However Finance Minister Michael McGrath warned that RTÉ should not expect to get all of the money it's requested from Cabinet.
He said: "In any negotiation, whether it be one minister to another or state supported body looking for funding from the exchequer, you rarely get what you want."
