A Clare TD claims government action on excise cuts is merely delaying future fuel protests.
It comes as the coalition faces backlash over its decision not to extend the fuel tax cuts indefinitely.
As it stands, excise cuts will be retained until November, before the duty is phased back in over four stages up to next February.
That will eventually add 27 cent a litre to the price of Petrol and 32 cent a litre to the price of Diesel.
To date, the various fuel interventions introduced by government since last March have cost the Exchequer just over €1.1billion.
However, with the situation in the Middle East remaining volatile, and Ireland’s electricity prices now the highest in the EU, the main opposition party is calling for long-term excise cuts.
Shannon Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan believes the current approach is simply delaying another large-scale fuel protest.
The Government, meanwhile, is defending its position to keep the situation under review, arguing that Ireland could be open to exploitation from international markets if an announcement were made prematurely.
Clare Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley insists the current approach offers the greatest protection to Irish consumers.
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