Sinn Féin has accused the Government of failing to act as fuel prices surge, saying Ireland is now in the third week of a worsening crisis.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions, Pearse Doherty said Government ministers "have not taken a single concrete step to bring down prices", and claimed they had been forced "onto the back foot by sustained pressure" from his party.
He said diesel prices rose by eight cent per litre today, with a further 12 cent increase projected, while a full tank of home heating oil increased by €100, with another €120 rise expected.
"Fuel prices aren't standing still. They are skyrocketing," he said, adding that families are being told to "wait while prices climb" and fall further behind.
Mr Doherty relayed accounts from people struggling to cope, including a pensioner who said they had to choose between electricity and heating, and others unable to meet the rising cost of minimum orders for home heating oil.
Responding, Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government would bring forward measures at its next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
He said work was ongoing, including engagement today with the Irish Road Haulage Association, and acknowledged "real pressure on families" and businesses.
Mr Harris said any intervention must be capable of being implemented quickly and remain flexible given "significant international volatility", including uncertainty linked to conflict in the Middle East.
He defended existing supports, noting fuel allowance has been increased to €38 per week and expanded to cover an additional 50,000 families, bringing the total number of eligible households to over 470,000.
He added that reduced VAT on gas and electricity, household benefits supports, and retrofitting measures together amount to €1.5 billion in Government spending.
Mr Harris said it was "not correct" to suggest no action had been taken, but confirmed further measures are being finalised.
When Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan rose to speak, he accused the Government of a hands off approach by failing to help people with the rising cost of living.
He said the coalition was "missing in action" while astronomical price increases are levied.
Mr O'Callaghan said 320,000 households are in arrears on their electricity bills and his party has proposed a €400 energy credit.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government has been hands on by extending the fuel allowance.
He restated a package of measures was being finalised for Tuesday and a premium will be put on measures that can come in quickly.
He said the situation at the pumps was challenging and the Government had previously cut excise on fuel.
Mr Harris said a number of departments were working on a package of targeted measures which he said had to be stable, proportionate and time bound.
Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said the situation is changing "hourly" and not just "daily" and is "volatile".
He said this is why the Government has to respond in a "targeted, nimble and flexible way".
"It's not just a one and done measure that the main opposition party might think is the way forward...but is done in a sustainable way and also means that as we keep the situation under daily review that we can further respond should we need to."
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, he confirmed that a cut in fuel excise duty is one of the measures that will be "on the table".
The minister said that while cutting fuel excise duty is one of the "clear options," he stopped short of guaranteeing this would happen, saying he wants to ensure that whatever measures the Government decides on will be "impactful and are positive and actually work".
