{
  "id": 2339837,
  "title": "Excise cuts should remain 'as long as necessary', says SF",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/excise-cuts-should-remain-as-long-as-necessary-says-sf",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T23:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2026/0821/1588712-fuel-prices-dail/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Irish Government has decided to postpone the planned re-introduction of full excise duty fuel costs in September and October, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has announced. The decision was made due to ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East, which has impacted fuel prices. The government will seek approval from the Dáil next Friday for a financial resolution confirming the pause. Minister Heydon stated that the measures are costing the exchequer €100m per month, but denied that the decision was taken to avoid potential protests. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste, along with Minister Canney, agreed to the postponement. The government reserves the right to adjust its response to the conflict in the Middle East as required. The Taoiseach emphasized that de-escalation in the Middle East is the greatest economic intervention needed.",
  "summary": "Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has said the cuts in place on fuel excise duty should remain for \"as long as they are necessary\", adding that they should only increase when international prices begin to fall.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}